Server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream. First programming schedule that comprises one or more functionalities enabled via one or more constraints and rights associated with at least a first disparate live media output stream is published, based on which indexed first disparate live media output stream is generated for first client device. Client request that comprises at least a program identifier, is received from first client device based on playback of indexed first disparate live media output stream. Manifest data and indexed metadata of programming content associated with program identifier is inserted to first disparate live media output stream manifest according to one or more functionalities. At least one of first disparate live media output stream is altered or second disparate live media output stream is generated, that comprises manifest data, indexed metadata and updated playback position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This Patent Application claims priority to, and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/898,582, filed on Sep. 11, 2019 andis a Continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 10,965,967, issued Mar. 30,2021, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 11,134,309,issued on Sep. 28, 2021, and claims priority to and the benefit fromU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/699,131, filed Jul. 17, 2018.

This application also makes reference to: U.S. application Ser. No.16/229,310, filed on Dec. 21, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No.16/229,497, filed on Dec. 28, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No.16/229,614, filed on Dec. 21, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No.16/235,445, filed on Dec. 28, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No.16/236,673, filed on Dec. 31, 2018; and U.S. application Ser. No.17/017,052, filed on Sep. 10, 2020.

Each of the above referenced patent applications is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

Certain embodiments of the disclosure relate to a television contentpackaging and distribution system. More specifically, certainembodiments of the disclosure relate to a method and system forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content, and for server-side dynamic insertion ofprogramming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream.

BACKGROUND

Recent advancements in the field of television content packaging anddistribution systems have led to a massive development of numeroustechnologies and broadcasting platforms that are revolutionizing the wayconsumer devices access and playout media content. Usually, broadcastingplatforms refer to the types of networks that are used to deliver themedia content to the consumers. Currently, the broadcasting platforms,such as analog terrestrial broadcast, digital terrestrial broadcast,direct-to-home satellite broadcast, cable, Internet Protocol (IP), andover-the-top television (OTT), compete and strive to increase theirappeal by gaining and retaining the audience viewing the media content.

Modern streaming protocols, such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) andDynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), are implemented to supportstreaming of various live content services, such as DIRECTV NOW℠, SLINGTV℠ and PLAYSTAYION™ VUE, to consumer devices. Due to dissemination ofsuch modern streaming protocols in the television, radio, andbroadcasting sector, it is evident that the success of broadcasting willbe dependent on the ability of the network provider to gain access tothe content that consumers demand, and to differentiate their offeringfrom that of incumbent broadcasters or find breakthrough modes of mediacontent delivery.

Existing systems for Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) support livestreaming and make decisions to insert non-programing content in nearreal-time. However, for On-Demand streaming, such decisions to insertnon-programing content are made upfront. Further, legacy technology ofthe existing systems for server-side content insertion support a finiteplayback buffer as the encoder typically publishes a rolling windowhaving limited duration. Accordingly, amount of control the user canexcerpt to influence what non-programming content and programmingcontent is shown may get limited.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present disclosureas set forth in the remainder of the present application with referenceto the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Systems and/or methods are provided for publishing a disparateper-client live media output stream based on dynamic insertion oftargeted non-programming content and customized programming content, andfor server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in an indexeddisparate live media output stream, substantially as shown in and/ordescribed in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forthmore completely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentdisclosure, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof,will be more fully understood from the following description anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary system forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content and for server-side dynamic insertion of programmingcontent in an indexed disparate live media output stream, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary dynamicad/content insertion system (DACIS) for publishing a disparateper-client live media output stream based on dynamic insertion oftargeted non-programming content and customized programming content andfor server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in an indexeddisparate live media output stream, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates segmentation of live input streams and pre-encodedmedia assets for a first programming schedule for publishing a disparateper-client live media output stream based on dynamic insertion oftargeted non-programming content and customized programming content bythe DACIS of FIG. 1B and for server-side dynamic insertion ofprogramming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario associated with publishing adisparate live media output stream by the DACIS of FIG. 1B, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates a disparate live media output stream manifest, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A to 4D collectively depict a flowchart illustrating exemplaryoperations for publishing a disparate per-client live media outputstream based on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programming contentand customized programming content by the DACIS of FIG. 1B, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for the DACIS employing a processing system forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content and for server-side dynamic insertion of programmingcontent in an indexed disparate live media output stream, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 6A to 6E collectively depict a flowchart illustrating exemplaryoperations for server-side dynamic insertion of programming content inan indexed disparate live media output stream by the DACIS of FIG. 1B,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may be found in a method andsystem for publishing a disparate per-client live media output streambased on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content andcustomized programming content, and for server-side dynamic insertion ofprogramming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream.Various embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system thatnot only provide live channel offerings in cost-effective manner butalso provide enhanced, intelligent, and personalized viewer experienceto increase their appeal by retaining the audience viewing the mediacontent. Further, additional embodiments of the disclosure provideanother method and system that allows for simulation of an infinite livewindow (or an infinite playback buffer). Accordingly, the user may seekto a desired point scheduled backwards or forwards with respect to alive point in a playback buffer of the first disparate live media outputstream, as limited or stimulated by business rules.

Modern streaming protocols, such as HLS and DASH, break media contentinto numerous small media content segments, typically less than 10seconds in length. Further, the modern streaming protocols implementmanifests that instruct a media player on what media content segment toretrieve and play next. The manifest may enlist the media segments thatmake up the full length of the media asset. The manifest may includeinformation, based on which the media player at a consumer device may beable to determine the media segments. The manifest and/or media contentsegment may also include and/or specify additional information tofacilitate a media player to transition smoothly between media contentstreams from different sources. The manifest may be used for creating aplaylist of multiple media content files, or for interrupting mediacontent with advertising and then resuming the media content.

Such modern streaming protocols support video-on-demand (VOD) assets andlive content as well. The VOD assets prepared for distribution, forexample Internet distribution, may have a sequence of short durationsegments added to a manifest. The short duration segments may beseparate physical files or pointers (real or to be calculated) to theshort media content segments inside a larger file. On the other hand, incase of live content, new short content media segments are madeavailable as soon as they are created. In some protocols, each newsegment is added to a manifest while in others the media player isprovided with information that may be utilized to calculate what thenext live segment will be. In the latter case, a signal in the mediacontent itself may be utilized to inform the player when to re-inspector check the manifest for a change in media content. In live streaming,delivery of live content is supported by making available each new shortmedia content segments as soon as such media content segments aregenerated. In some protocols, new media content segments may be added tothe manifest, while in others, the media player calculates necessaryinformation about the next live media content segments.

In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a system isprovided for publishing a disparate per-client live media output streambased on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content andcustomized programming content. One or more processors in the system maybe configured to receive a first manifest request from a first clientdevice, wherein the first manifest request comprises one or moreparameters. The one or more processors in the system may be furtherconfigured to determine a first additional content that comprises acustomized first programming content and a targeted firstnon-programming content for the first client device based on the one ormore parameters and the associated indexed metadata. The one or moreprocessors in the system may be further configured to generate a firstprogramming schedule for the first client device based on the selectedone or more live input streams and/or the one or more pre-encoded mediaassets, the associated indexed metadata, and the determined firstadditional content. Accordingly, one or more live input stream manifestsand/or one or more pre-encoded media asset manifests published in acontent delivery network and associated indexed metadata may be selectedbased on the one or more parameters. The one or more processors in thesystem may be further configured to publish a first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest for the first client device based on insertion ofthe selected one or more live input stream manifests and/or the one ormore pre-encoded media asset manifests, the associated indexed metadata,and the determined first additional content in accordance with the firstprogramming schedule generated for the first client device.

In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a system isprovided for server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in anindexed disparate live media output stream. One or more processors inthe system may be configured to publish a first programming schedulethat comprises one or more functionalities enabled via one or moreconstraints and rights associated with at least a first disparate livemedia output stream. The published first programming schedule mayreference one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or one or more liveinput streams. The one or more processors in the system may be furtherconfigured to generate an indexed first disparate live media outputstream for a first client device based on the published firstprogramming schedule. Based on a playback of the indexed first disparatelive media output stream at the first client device, the one or moreprocessors in the system may be further configured to receive a clientrequest from the first client device. The client request comprises atleast a program identifier referenced in the published first programmingschedule with respect to a playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule. The one or more processors in the system may befurther configured to insert manifest data and indexed metadata of aprogramming content associated with the program identifier to a firstdisparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with the oneor more functionalities. Based on the insertion of the manifest data andindexed metadata associated with the program identifier referenced inthe first programming schedule, the one or more processors in the systemmay be further configured to at least one of alter the first disparatelive media output stream or generate a second disparate live mediaoutput stream. The altered first disparate live media output stream orthe generated second disparate live media output stream comprises themanifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playback position.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary system forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content, and for server-side dynamic insertion ofprogramming content in an indexed disparate live media output stream, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1A, the system 100, comprises a media packaging and distributionsystem 102 that is communicatively coupled to published data sources 104a, . . . , 104 n, Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n, via anetwork 108 and/or other programmatic means. There are shown consumerdevices 110 a, . . . , 110 n that are communicatively coupled to thenetwork 108. The media packaging and distribution system 102 maycomprise at least a DACIS 103, a Content Decisioning Service (CDS) 105,a Content Packaging and Distribution System (CPDS) 107, a streamselection service 142, and a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. There are also shown source devices 118communicatively coupled to the media packaging and distribution system102 through the network 108. An external data source 120 is alsoprovided, which is communicatively coupled to the media packaging anddistribution system 102 through the network 108.

The media packaging and distribution system 102 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to execute codethat handles media content comprising audio, video, images, metadata,manifests, and/or other data (embedded and/or externally referenced).The media content may include a video, an audio, a combination of audioand video presentations, and/or embedded or externally referencedmetadata, a combination of multiple-audio, multiple-video, and/orembedded or externally referenced metadata. Accordingly, the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 publishes a disparate per-clientlive media output stream based on dynamic insertion of targetednon-programming content and customized programming content.

In this regard, the media packaging and distribution system 102 mayprovide video programming services to viewers, usually for asubscription fee (such as pay television). The media packaging anddistribution system 102 also handles distribution, for example,multicasting, unicasting, broadcasting, streaming, for one or morechannels to be viewed on one or more of the plurality of consumerdevices 110 a, . . . , 110 n.

The media packaging and distribution system 102 may be operated by anentity related to handling or distribution of media content, forexample, a broadcast provider or operator, or a network provider ornetwork operator. The entity related to handling or distribution ofmedia content may also be referred to as a content owner, a distributor,a syndicator, a re-distributor, a content aggregator, a search,discovery, or cataloging service provider, or any other entity activelyor passively involved with the distribution, cataloging, or referencingof complete or partial presentations of media content. Throughout thisdocument, the terms broadcast provider or broadcast operator, andnetwork provider or network operator may be utilized to refer to theentity related to handling or distribution of media content,interchangeably. The broadcast provider may handle a single channel or aplurality of channels, or one or more networks. The broadcast providermay be configured to distribute content via one or more platforms, forexample, traditional over-the-air broadcast channels, radio, cabletelevision networks, satellite communication networks, the Internet,and/or other content delivery networks (CDNs). In this regard, thebroadcast provider may be configured to execute code that communicateslinear video feeds (also referred to as a network television feed orbroadcast feed) to the media packaging and distribution system 102. In abroadcast chain, the broadcast provider may receive actual content, forexample, from a production studio, in one or more source formats.Examples of the one or more source formats may include, but are notlimited to a tape file, or a live feed that may be further converted toa serial digital interface (SDI) video interface and/or on ahigh-definition SDI (HD-SDI) video interface for processing and playout.The broadcast provider may further process the content, such asinsertion of graphics, closed captions, preparation of programmingschedule, insertion of triggers, and the like, and provide finaldelivery by a broadcasting apparatus. The communicated linear video feedand the playout schedule may correspond to a channel, such as CNNchannel that is broadcast to the media packaging and distribution system102, via a communication network. The linear video feed may bebroadcasted as a multi-program transport stream (MPTS) (also referred toas a live video feed) to the media packaging and distribution system102, via the network 108. The broadcast provider may be owned by (orassociated to) a broadcast provider or operator, a network provider oroperator, or a content provider or operator.

The media packaging and distribution system 102 may receive the MPTS,which includes the signaling content and metadata, from the broadcastprovider based on, for example, current society of cabletelecommunication engineers (SCTE) standards (SCTE-35 and SCTE-224) tocontrol web and regional blackouts, network end of day switching, andadvertisement insertion. For example, the media packaging anddistribution system 102 may be signaled for various blackout types within-band SCTE-35 message. Further, the media packaging and distributionsystem 102 may receive program metadata that specifies certain events oroperations, such as, for example, when to blackout shows. Examples oflegacy distribution system that may be benefitted from the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 may include direct-broadcastsatellite (DBS) providers, cable television (CATV) systems, and otherwireline video providers and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs)using, for example, IPTV.

The DACIS 103 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfacesthat may be configured to leverage one-to-one scale of traditional SSAIsystems to support custom programming content choices and not justtargeted non-programming content. For example when the user selects tojoin a live stream, a content decisioning system, such as the CDS 105could determine that, instead of joining the live stream for the lastfew minutes of a program prior to the start of the intended program, theuser should instead be shown content more relevant to the user so as toprevent them from tuning away, e.g. show a personalized set ofbasketball highlights and ads to a user who likely joined the stream towatch a basketball game that is coming on next. The DACIS 103 replacesoriginal content in the live stream prior to game start with userrelevant content, such that upon its conclusion, the user is seamlesslypresented the game.

The DACIS 103 may be further configured to, via a programming scheduleor tag indicator in a disparate live media output stream manifest, benotified of one or more content graphical treatment opportunities withinthe media content. The DACIS 103 may be further configured to makerequired non-programming content calls on behalf of the plurality ofconsumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. Accordingly, the DACIS 103 mayprovide the plurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n withinformation needed to execute the graphical treatment graphical contentvia a secure out-of-band channel between the DACIS 103 and the pluralityof consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. In accordance with anembodiment, the DACIS 103 may be configured to include not showingnon-programming content that a user of a consumer device may elected toskip or rated poorly in an earlier non-programming content break.Further, the DACIS 103 may enable the user to skip non-programmingcontent as the user interacted with a previous non-programming contentor made a purchase and the advertiser elected to sponsor the remainderof the programming content.

In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may be configured toprovide seamless failover between redundant disparate live media outputstreams for large events, thus improving reliability. In certaininstances, some of the plurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110n may support a primary and backup disparate live media output streamsand are able to fail between them. In other instances, others of theplurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n may not support theprimary and backup disparate live media output streams. In suchinstances, the consumer devices may attempt to join an alternativedisparate live media output stream after occurrence of an event such asa device failure or crash. For such consumer devices, the DACIS 103 maybe configured to monitor both the primary and backup disparate livemedia output streams, and if there is a failure, write the alternativedisparate live media output stream into the disparate live media outputstream manifest.

Each of the plurality of published data sources 104 a, . . . , 104 n maybe coupled to one or more television networks and may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to execute codethat provides actual audiences for programs that were distributed. Asillustrated in FIG. 1A, the plurality of published data sources 104 a, .. . , 104 n are coupled to the media packaging and distribution system102 via the network 108 and configured to monitor audience drift to oraway from a tuned channel airing a live media output stream. Theplurality of published data sources 104 a, . . . , 104 n may provideactual audiences for programs to the indexing and storage system 116. Anexemplary published data source may be Nielsen. Nielsen has thecapability to determine when a viewer watches the same set of mediaitems, for example, advertisements and/or promotional content, inprogramming data, such as an episode, in a live video feed within 3 daysof original airing, and provide Nielsen “C3” credit. Another exemplarypublished data source may be a published database that provides ratingsfor a media item, such as gross rating point (GRP). The GRP isadvertising or promotion impact measure for each advertising and/orpromotional campaigns, known in the art. Other exemplary published datasources may also include direct/indirect access to other public orprivate data sources (persistent or ephemeral) through programmaticmeans.

The CDS 105 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces thatmay be configured to determine, upon request, which programming content(or partial programming content) to deliver back to the plurality ofconsumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. Thus, the CDS 105 may beconfigured to insert additional content (including non-programmingcontent) or replace existing content, according to one or moreparameters provided by the plurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . ,110 n and data stored in various external systems and/or databases.

The Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to implement atleast an advertisement decisioning component that may be used during areal-time content or advertisement placement activity, for exampleduring dynamic ad insertion. The Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . ,106 n may further determine ad-load opportunity, based on targeting datafrom schedules, rights, and user preferences database.

For example, commercial or non-commercial advertisements may bedynamically inserted within program segments of the live input streamsbased on the detected upcoming indicator, such as an inbound trigger, asignaling point, and/or a signal in a pre-encoded media asset and/or alive input stream by the Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n.

In an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may be generalized as a proxy betweenthe plurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n and the Addecisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n. In one implementation, arequest is sent from a consumer device to the DACIS 103. The DACIS 10may call on of the Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n todetermine a set of non-programming content that may be inserted into thedisparate live media output stream.

The CPDS 107 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces thatmay be configured to index programming content, which is prepared forusage by a system, such as the stream publishing engine 114. The CPDS107 may further define metadata detailing various facets of theprogramming and/or non-programming content including duration, knownlocations and opportunities for programming and/or non-programmingcontent insertion/replacement.

The network 108 may be any kind of network, or a combination of variousnetworks, and it is shown illustrating exemplary communication that mayoccur between the Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n and themedia packaging and distribution system 102. For example, the network108 may comprise one or more of a cable television network, theInternet, a satellite communication network, a wide area network (WAN),a medium area network (MAN), and a local area network (LAN). Although anetwork 108 is shown, the disclosure is not limited in this regard;accordingly, other exemplary modes may comprise uni-directional orbi-directional distribution, such as packet-radio, satellite.Furthermore, the network 108 is an exemplary embodiment of adistribution system.

The consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n may refer to end-user devicesor consumption devices where the content is played to be consumed by auser. The number of impressions of a media item, such as anadvertisement and/or promotional media, on such plurality of consumerdevices 110 a, . . . , 110 n determines the advertising impact orpromotion impact and number of actual audiences achieved duringcampaigns. Examples of the consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n mayinclude, but are not limited to, connected TVs, connected TV with pairedand/or connected devices (e.g., HDMI sticks, tablets), personalcomputer, smartphone, tablet, OTT set-top, or hybrid set-top, and secondscreen devices such as smartphones, tablets, game consoles, personalcomputers, set-top boxes, and embedded devices. The consumer devices 110a, . . . , 110 n may further include process/system that may process theoutput for any means, regardless of the capability or intent to decodefor media presentation, and on which the consumer may launch a web page,a web application, or a web service to view media content.

The source devices 118 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, andinterfaces that may be configured to communicate a live media feed orlive input streams of a channel, such as an existing channel, to themedia packaging and distribution system 102. In accordance with anembodiment, the live input streams of the channel may correspond to abroadcast feed. The source device 118 may be communicatively coupled tothe network 108.

The external data source 120 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, andinterfaces that may be configured to execute code that handles retrievaland storage of audience data that corresponds to subscribers of theplurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. The audience datamay include demographics data, audience targeting data, trending data,device type data, device platform data, and content recognition-baseddata, such as automatic content recognition (ACR)-based data. Thetrending data may comprise information on what's trending in the socialnetworks (or platforms), such as Twitter®, Facebook®, and the like. Thetrending data also comprises information on what's trending based onsocial engagement, such as number of likes or votes to a particularmedia item, or number of people watching a particular media item. Thetrending data may indicate an aggregate interest level of a number ofusers in the social networks for a particular media item. For example, athousand or more shares, or likes by a number of users may indicate ahighly popular media item.

The stream selection service 142 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and interfaces that may be configured to execute code that may beconfigured to provide a consumer device, for example, the consumerdevice 110 a, requesting to view the disparate live media output streamwith a correct variant of disparate live media output stream, based onthe geolocation and identification of the consumer device 110 a, alongwith data retrieved from the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144.

The repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may beconfigured to store the schedules for all source feeds, availabilityrights for all the content in the schedules, regional blackout zones forthe various sports leagues, predefined location-based viewingpreferences, individual client viewing preferences, and any viewing ortransition rules provided by the stream owner operator. The repositoryof schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144 may furtherstore one or more constraints and rights associated with disparate livemedia output streams based on which one or more functionalities may beenabled.

In operation, in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, uponreceiving a first manifest request from a consumer device, the DACIS 103may be configured to publish a manifest of a first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the consumer device. The first disparate live mediaoutput stream may be chosen by the DACIS 103, at the time of the firstmanifest request, to best target a consumer device, according to aplurality of client-specific parameters. The plurality ofclient-specific parameters may comprise user preferences andidentifiers, consumer device preferences and identifiers, and one ormore rules/rights governed by geolocation data and current position ofplayback of a first disparate live media output stream at the consumerdevice. The first disparate live media output stream manifest may begenerated, at the time of the first manifest request, to includeadditional content, such as the targeted non-programming content and thecustomized programming content. Examples of the targeted non-programmingcontent may include, but are not limited to, advertisements,personalized (per-user) advertisements, video advertisements, andgraphical treatment (such as overlays). The targeted non-programmingcontent may further include first interactive elements, such as anoption to purchase goods or content, and second interactive elements.The second interactive elements may further affect the generation of thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest by providing variousoptions. For example, a first option may be to skip a given ad, a secondoption may be to skip future ads for remainder of the playback of thefirst disparate live media output stream, a third option may be tochoose one or more ads of a given category, or a fourth option may betoo watch all ads immediately to avoid ads for the remainder of theplayback. Examples of the customized programming content may include,but are not limited to, promotional content, short-form content, oralternate content (content replacing that of the requested firstdisparate live media output stream.

The DACIS 103 may further receive metadata associated with the contentand additional content for the first disparate live media output streamfrom the CPDS 107. The metadata may include, for example, ad breaklocations, graphical treatment marker/triggers, SCTE35 markers, contentduration, personalized content opportunities, and one or more decisionpoint locations.

In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may be configured toconvert a pre-encoded media asset to the first disparate live mediaoutput stream to facilitate one or more subsequent modifications on thefirst disparate live media output stream. The one or more subsequentmodifications may correspond to a user selection, a user preference, achange in a first programming schedule, or a time or geolocation-basedrule. In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may be configuredto perform another conversion of remainder of the first disparate livemedia output stream into the one or more pre-encoded media assets tofacilitate download of the one or more pre-encoded media assets at theconsumer device and mitigate dependency on the DACIS 103 for playback ofremaining portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, upon receiving thefirst manifest request, a manifest of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream may be altered to include additional or alternate content,apart from the content originally scheduled for playback. The DACIS 103may be configured to determine which content to include/replace byutilizing one or more parameters. The one or more parameters mayinclude, but not limited to, URL requested for playback, and anidentifier referencing a record for an existing first disparate livemedia output stream or an external connected system, such as the CPDS107. The one or more parameters may include a plurality ofclient-specific parameters that may comprise user preferences andidentifiers, consumer device preferences and identifiers, and one ormore rules/rights governed by geolocation data and current position ofplayback of a first disparate live media output stream at the consumerdevice. The one or more parameters may include a plurality ofclient-specified attributes derived from user interaction with theconsumer device. The plurality of client-specified attributes mayinclude, for example, a preference for a given type and/or category (orcategories) of programming content, a possible time constraint orduration to fill with content. The time constraint or duration to fillwith content may be determined by user preferences from an externalsystem, such as the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144, a range defined in the first client manifestrequest, schedule tolerances, as defined in the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144, devicepreferences/identifiers declared in the first manifest request, and aprior consumer request, or found in the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144. The time constraint or duration tofill with content may be further determined by geolocation informationdeclared in the first manifest request or found in the first manifestrequest, or external database, such as the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144, or external systems, such asa content recommendation engine. The one or more parameters may furtherinclude rules, rights, and schedule data stored in the DACIS 103 or anadjacent, external system—such as the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may determine where toplace new or alternate content within the requested disparate live mediaoutput stream. The DACIS 103 may utilize metadata, such as ad breaklocations, graphical treatment markers/triggers, SCTE35 markers, contentduration, and one or more decision point locations. The metadata may besourced from a system that has indexed metadata for the asset, such asthe CPDS 107. The DACIS 103 may generate a new schedule from thedetermined alterations in the first disparate live media output stream.The DACIS 103 may transmit resulting schedule to the stream publishingengine 114 to generate a final disparate live media output stream. Thefinal disparate live media output stream may be delivered back tooriginating client. The stream publishing engine 114 may generate thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest based on one of apre-defined conversion modes. The pre-defined conversion modes maycorrespond to pre-encoded media assets to live stream mode, pre-encodedmedia assets to live stream mode with scalable architecture, a livestream to live stream mode, and a mixed mode corresponding to switchingbetween pre-encoded media assets and live streams.

The final disparate live media output stream may contain one or moredecision points, which, if configured, may be presented by the consumerdevice to the user. In this regard, the final disparate live mediaoutput stream may be delivered as a live stream between the decisionpoints whether or not the programming content selected by a user ispre-encoded media asset or a live input stream. At the one or moredecision points, the user interaction may correspond to one of a desiredselection corresponding to the user interaction with one or moreinteractive elements, or a default selection corresponding tonon-interaction of a user with the customized first programming contentand/or the targeted first non-programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream played back by the media player. The desiredselection or the default selection may be transmitted to an externalstorage system that is the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, at the one or more decision points,the one or more interactive elements may facilitate exclusion of thetargeted first non-programming content or the customized firstprogramming content and replacement by default content. The one or moreinteractive elements may further facilitate selection of alternatecustomized first programming content, selection of a subsequent secondprogramming content, approval or disapproval of the selected customizedfirst programming content, and/or exclusion of subsequent secondnon-programming content for a remaining portion of the first disparatelive media output stream played back by the media player. The one ormore interactive elements may further facilitate selection of one ormore targeted first non-programming content of a specific category, orviewing of some or all of the targeted first non-programming contentimmediately to avoid some or all of the targeted first non-programmingcontent for the remaining portion of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream played back by the media player.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the DACIS 103, uponthe first manifest request, may seamlessly transition the firstadditional content to an alternate additional content according todetermination made by the stream selection service 142, based on one ormore transition parameters. The one or more transition parameters maycomprise one or more parameters from the first manifest request, currentstate of the first disparate live media output stream manifestdetermined based on accessibility, regular update, and suitableencoding, digital rights management, and compatibility with the firstclient device, rules provided by a stream owner operator, and userpreferences defined in the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144.

The DACIS 103 may retrieve alternate metadata for the alternateadditional content from the CPDS 107. The alternate metadata mayindicate a location to seamlessly transition from the first additionalcontent to the alternate additional content, and may include ad breaklocations, graphical treatment markers/triggers, SCTE35markers/triggers, content duration, and/or one or more decision points.The DACIS 103 may be configured to determine placement of the alternateadditional content within the first disparate live media output streammanifest based on the associated indexed metadata and the alternatemetadata. The DACIS 103 may generate an alternate programming schedulefor the first client device based on the alternate additional contentand the alternate metadata. The DACIS 103 may transmit the generatedalternate programming schedule to the stream publishing engine 114. Thestream publishing engine 114 may generate a final disparate live outputstream manifest for the consumer device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may revoke the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest published for the firstconsumer device based on an identifier primitive associated with thefirst disparate live media output stream of the first consumer device inan instance in which a media player of the first consumer device isdetermined to be a plagiarized media player with unauthorized access tocontent. In such embodiment, the first disparate live media outputstream may include at least one unique identifier inserted by the DACIS103.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the DACIS 103 maybe configured to receive a client request from a first client device,such as the client device 132 a, based on a playback of an indexed firstdisparate live media output stream at the first client device. Theclient request may comprise at least a program identifier referenced inthe published first programming schedule with respect to a playbackposition in the published first programming schedule. Accordingly,manifest data and indexed metadata of programming content associatedwith the program identifier may be inserted to a first disparate livemedia output stream manifest in accordance with the one or morefunctionalities. Based on such insertion, the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to at least one of alter the first disparate live mediaoutput stream or generate a second disparate live media output stream.The altered first disparate live media output stream or the generatedsecond disparate live media output stream comprises the manifest data,the indexed metadata and an updated playback position.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary DACIS forpublishing an updated disparate live media output stream in mixed modebased on user selection, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1B, the DACIS 103 comprises a firstprogramming schedule 111, an alternate programming schedule 113, astream publishing engine 114, a personalized experience manager (PEM)115, and an indexing and storage system 116. FIG. 1B further illustratesa content delivery system 130, which is an example of the network 108,client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n, which correspond to the pluralityof consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. There is further shown aper-client disparate live media output stream 117 a, . . . , 117 n forcorresponding client device from the client devices 132 a, . . . , 132n.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the stream publishing engine 114,the PEM 115, and the indexing and storage system 116 may be integratedto form an integrated system, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. In someembodiments of the disclosure, as shown, the stream publishing engine114, the PEM 115, and the indexing and storage system 116 may bedistinct. In this regard, the PEM 115 may be implemented external to theDACIS 103 without loss of generality. Other separation and/orcombination of the various entities of the exemplary media packaging anddistribution system 102 illustrated in FIG. 1B may be done withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of thedisclosure. In an embodiment, the implementation of the DACIS 103 may beon the server-side. In another embodiment, the implementation of theDACIS 103 may be on the client-side.

The first programming schedule 111 may correspond to an instruction setfor a disparate live media output stream for a corresponding clientdevice. The first programming schedule 111 may inform the streampublishing engine 114 about pre-encoded media assets and live inputstreams as well as when and how to switch between the variouspre-encoded media assets and live input streams. The first programmingschedule 111 may also support defining break durations for mid roll ads,break locations, and durations in the pre-encoded media asset and liveinput stream switches.

The alternate programming schedule 113 may correspond to an instructionset for an updated or alternate disparate live media output stream. Thealternate programming schedule 113 may inform the stream publishingengine 114 about the alternate pre-encoded media asset and/or thealternate live input stream, and alternate additional content.Specifically, the alternate programming schedule 113 may indicate thatwhen and how to switch between the various disparate live media outputstreams.

The stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured togenerate disparate live media output stream manifests and variants ofdisparate live media output stream manifests. The stream publishingengine 114 may be configured to publish unique-to-client streamingmanifests leveraging different indexes created by the indexing andstorage system 116 from the various live input streams, pre-encodedmedia assets, targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content based on a defined per-client schedule.

The PEM 115 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to personalize viewerexperience of users by communicating with existing content decisioningsystems, such as CDS 105, and executing/converting schedules provided,for example from the first programming schedule 111 to the alternateprogramming schedule 113. The PEM 115 in the DACIS 103 may be furtherconfigured to communicate with an ad server, such as the Ad decisioningserver 106 a, and stitching in targeted first non-programming contentand customized first programming content, as required by the firstprogramming schedule 111 and user preferences. The PEM 115 in the DACIS103 may be further configured to generate a schedule for a disparatelive media output stream of personalized content (i.e., clips ormovies), communicating with the stream selection service 142 to switchor failover to different disparate live media input streams, and controloverlays and other events triggered via the disparate live media outputstream. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream selection service142 may be used to switch between different output streams when a clientdevice is requesting directly from the stream selection service 142. Inaccordance with other embodiment, the stream selection service 142 maybe used to switch between different streams that may act as inputs forthe PEM 115 and/or stream publishing engine 114 to generate a new outputstream.

The indexing and storage system 116 in the DACIS 103 may be configuredto ingest pre-encoded media assets, advertisement, and (continuously)live stream source manifests, indexes the media content segments,indexes one or more program indicators (such as program boundaries),non-programming indicators (such as ad break locations, overlayopportunities credits, and DRM systems supported, in the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.

The per-client disparate live media output streams 117 a, . . . , 117 nmay correspond to disparate live media output stream comprising liveinput streams and/or pre-encoded media assets to be sent back to aclient device, upon request, that has been generated from a per-clientschedule, such as the first programming schedule 111. Various mediacontainer formats of the live input streams and/or pre-encoded mediaassets may include, but are not limited to, transport stream (TS),fragmented MP4 (fMP4), Common Media Application Format (CMAF) and thelike.

The content delivery system 130 may correspond to the network 108,described in FIG. 1. The content delivery system 130 may comprisenetworks configured for distributing media content to the plurality ofclient devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n. Generally, the term “content,”“metadata,” “media,” and similar words are used interchangeably to referto any type of media—audio, videos, datacasts, music, text, images,graphics, articles, still photos, animated photos, moving photos, photogalleries, video galleries, infographics, maps, polls, guestbiographies, tweets or other social media, blog posts, and/or the like.The content delivery system 130 may be configured to provide a pluralityof disparate live media output streams to the plurality of clientdevices 132 a, . . . , 132 n (in case packaged content is available onthe network 108) or from the content packaging and distribution system107 (in case packaged content is not available on the network 108). Theplurality of disparate live media output streams may be provided to theplurality of client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n via, for example, atransport stream, a segmented streaming, a progressive download, or anyother modes of distributing a multimedia presentation, such as via anover-the-air content delivery/distribution network, a linear contentdelivery/distribution network, a cable content delivery/distributionnetwork, a satellite content delivery/distribution network, an InternetProtocol (IP) based content delivery/distribution network, and/or thelike.

The client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n may correspond to consumerdevices 110 a, . . . , 110 n. In accordance with an embodiment, theclient devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n may be content recognition(CR)-enabled devices, such as automatic content recognition enableddevices. The client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n may be configured tocommunicate with the Ad decisioning server 106 a, via the contentdelivery system 130, or a separate communication network.

The stream selection service 142 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and interfaces that may be configured to provide a client device, forexample, the client device 132 a, requesting to view a disparate livemedia output stream with a correct variant of disparate live mediaoutput stream, based on the geolocation and identification of the clientdevice 132 a, along with data retrieved from the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144. The streamselection service 142 may further receive user preferences of a userassociated with the client device 132 a, for example, to view therecommended/desired existing disparate live media output stream on theclient device 132 a. The stream selection service 142 may further storethe received preferences in the repository of schedules, rights, anduser preferences database 144, and also communicate with the PEM 115.The stream selection service 142 acts as an interface between the PEM115 of the media packaging and distribution system 102 and the pluralityof client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n.

The repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may beconfigured to execute code to store content rights, user preferences,regional preferences, live schedules, and regional rights. For example,content rights may store availability and platform rights for live inputstreams in the first programming schedules, such as the firstprogramming schedule 111, the user preferences may store preferences ofindividual user viewing preferences, the regional preferences may storeregional viewing preferences, the live schedules may store the schedulesfor live input streams, and the regional rights may store regionalblackout zones for the various sports leagues, for example. Therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144 mayfurther store data supplied from a stream owner/operator includingrequirements, preferences, such as pre-defined location-based viewingpreferences, stream transition rules, and any required client data, suchas service level and zip code.

In operation, in accordance with an aspect (regarding just-in-timeinsertion of non-programming content and/or programming content) of thedisclosure, a media player in a consumer device, such as the consumerdevice 110 a, may send a first manifest request to the DACIS 103 toreceive a disparate live media output stream manifest to begin orcontinue playback. The first manifest request may comprise one or moreparameters, such as universal resource locators and/or identifiersreferencing records for one or more live input streams or one or morepre-encoded media assets in the CPDS 107, a plurality of client-specificparameters, and a plurality of client-specified attributes derived froma user interaction with the consumer device, such as the consumer device110 a. The plurality of client-specific parameters may comprise userpreferences and identifiers, client device preferences and identifiers,and one or more rules governed by geolocation data and current positionof playback of a first disparate live media output stream at theconsumer device, such as the consumer device 110 a. The plurality ofclient-specified attributes may comprise the user interaction withinteractive content in a customized first programming content and atargeted first non-programming content, and a preference for a typeand/or category of the targeted first non-programming content and/or thecustomized first programming content. The user interaction with theinteractive content may comprises a selection to exclude the targetedfirst non-programming content and/or the customized first programmingcontent, a selection to include a subset of the targeted firstnon-programming content and/or the customized first programming content,and a selection to include all of the targeted first non-programmingcontent and/or the customized first programming content within one ormore specified non-programming content locations.

In case the first manifest request is for a first disparate live mediaoutput stream, the PEM 115 transmits the one or more parameters in thefirst manifest request to the stream selection service 142. The streamselection service 142 may determine live input streams and/orpre-encoded media assets, based on the one or more parameters in thefirst manifest request and in repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. The stream selection service 142 may transmitthe determined identifiers or URLs of the live input streams and/orpre-encoded media assets to the PEM 115. The PEM 115 may then transmitthe first manifest request to the CPDS 107 to retrieve metadata for thedetermined live input streams and/or pre-encoded media assets. Themetadata may include, for example ad break locations, overlaymarkers/triggers, SCTE35 markers, and content duration.

The PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may further transmit the received firstmanifest request to the CPDS 107 based on the selected one or more liveinput streams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets. The PEM 115may receive the indexed metadata, for example non-programmingindicators, such as ad break locations, graphical treatment indicators,such as overlay markers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35markers and content duration, from the CPDS 107.

The PEM 115 may further identify the one or more content placementopportunities defined by the metadata associated with the one or morelive input streams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets. The PEM115 may further receive additional content, such as targeted firstnon-programming content from the Ad decisioning server 106 a, andcustomized first programming content to match one or morepersonalization parameters from the CDS 105.

The PEM 115 may be configured to generate the first programming schedule111 for a first client device, such as the client device 132 a, based onselected one or more live input streams and/or the one or morepre-encoded media assets, the associated indexed metadata, and thedetermined first additional content. The generated first programmingschedule 111 may be delivered to the stream publishing engine 114. Thestream publishing engine 114 may be configured to select the one or morelive input stream manifests and/or the one or more pre-encoded mediaasset manifests published in the content delivery system 130. Theindexing and storage system 116 may be configured to index the pluralityof media segments indicated by the one or more pre-encoded media assetmanifests and the one or more live input stream manifests, theassociated indexed metadata, the targeted first non-programming content,and the customized first programming content may be indexed based on thefirst programming schedule 111 generated for the first client device,for example the client device 132 a. The stream publishing engine 114may be further configured to publish the first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest for the first client device, for example theclient device 132 a. The DACIS 103 may transmit the published firstdisparate live media output stream manifest to the media player of thefirst client device for playback of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream, for example the disparate live media output stream 117 a.

In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM 115 may receive a userinteraction from the media player of the first client device, forexample the client device 132 a. The user interaction may correspond toone of a desired selection corresponding to the user interaction withone or more interactive elements, or a default selection correspondingto a non-interaction of the user with the customized first programmingcontent and/or the targeted first non-programming content in the firstdisparate live media output stream 117 a played back by the mediaplayer. Based on the user interaction with the interactive content, thePEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to modify the remainingportion of the first programming schedule 111 that generates the firstdisparate live media output stream 117 a corresponding to the firstmanifest request generated by the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a.

In accordance with another aspect (regarding personalized insertion ofplaylist of non-programming content and/or programming content) of thedisclosure, the DACIS 103 may be configured to receive the firstmanifest request from the first client device, such as a client device132 a, to begin or continue playback of a first disparate live mediaoutput stream, for example the disparate live media output stream 117 a.In such embodiment, in addition to the plurality of client-specificparameters described above, the plurality of client-specified attributesmay comprise a preference for a given type and/or category (orcategories) of targeted non-programming content or customizedprogramming content, and a possible time constraint (duration) to fillwith content. Thereafter, in similar manner as described above, the PEM115 may transmit the one or more parameters in the first manifestrequest to the stream selection service 142. The stream selectionservice 142 may determine live input streams and/or pre-encoded mediaassets, based on the one or more parameters in the first manifestrequest and in repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144. The stream selection service 142 may transmit thedetermined identifiers or URLs of the live input streams and/orpre-encoded media assets to the PEM 115. The PEM 115 may then transmitthe first manifest request to the CPDS 107 to retrieve metadata for thedetermined live input streams and/or pre-encoded media assets. Themetadata may include, for example, categories to which content isassigned to (for example, “basketball”, “sports”, “Knicks”), in additionto ad break locations, overlay markers/triggers, SCTE35 markers, andcontent duration.

The PEM 115 may identify one or more content placement opportunitiesdefined by the metadata and may transmit a request to the CDS 105 todetermine the customized first programming content from the CPDS 107 formatching one or more personalization parameters. Accordingly, the PEM115 may generate the first programming schedule 111 defining locationsand types of one or more decision points defined by the one or morecontent placement opportunities in the indexed metadata. The one or moredecision points may define personalized content preferences, skipping ofpersonalized content and moving to default content, and approval ordisapproval of the personalized content. The remaining operations may besimilar to the just-in-time insertion of non-programming content and/orprogramming content.

In accordance with another aspect (regarding stream failover) of thedisclosure, the DACIS 103 may be configured to receive the firstmanifest request from the first client device, such as a client device132 a. The first manifest request may comprise one or more parameters,as described above. The PEM 115 may transmit the received first manifestrequest that comprises the one or more parameters to the streamselection service 142. The stream selection service 142 may determine ifthe set of criteria associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream is satisfied. The set of criteria may includeaccessibility of the first disparate live media output stream, update ofthe first disparate live media output stream and/or compatibility of thefirst disparate live media output stream having media and/or a manifestwith the first manifest request. The stream selection service 142 may befurther configured to determine the one or more live input streamsand/or one or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one or moreparameters in the first manifest request, and additional parametersretrieved from the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144. The stream selection service 142 may be further configuredto determine the one or more live input streams and/or one or morepre-encoded media assets based on rules provided by a streamowner/operator (such as a regional blackout for the first client deviceleading to an alternative stream to watch) and user preferences (thatexclude certain categories) defined in the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144.

When the set of criteria associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream is not satisfied, the stream selection service 142 mayselect a pre-encoded asset indicated in the first manifest request tocontinue playback as the first disparate live media output stream. ThePEM 115 may receive the universal resource locators and/or identifiersthat reference records for the selected one or more live input streamsor alternate one or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one ormore parameters and additional parameters retrieved from the repositoryof schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144. The PEM 115 mayfurther transmit the received first manifest request to the CPDS 107based on the selected one or more live input streams or alternate one ormore pre-encoded media assets. The PEM 115 may further receive thealternate metadata for the alternate additional content from the CPDS107. The metadata may include, for example, Ad break locations, overlaymarkers/triggers, SCTE35 markers/triggers, content duration, and one ormore decision points. The alternate metadata may further include alocation to transition from the first additional content to thealternate additional content. Thereafter, a placement of alternateadditional content within the first disparate live media output streammanifest may be determined based on the associated indexed metadata andthe alternate metadata. The PEM 15 may further generate the alternateprogramming schedule for the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, based on the alternate additional content and alternatemetadata. Accordingly, the stream selection service 142 may publish thefinal disparate live output stream manifest for the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, based on the generated alternateprogramming schedule.

In accordance with another aspect (regarding server-side dynamicinsertion of programming content in an indexed disparate live mediaoutput stream) of the disclosure, the PEM 115 may be configured topublish the first programming schedule 111 that may comprises one ormore functionalities enabled via one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least the first disparate live media output stream.The PEM 115 may publish the first programming schedule 111 referencingat least one live input stream or a pre-encoded asset as a source to beused in at least the first disparate live media output stream. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the one or more live input streams maycomprise pre-encoded media assets. In accordance with anotherembodiment, the one or more live input streams may comprise singularlyencoded live input streams. In accordance with an embodiment, the one ormore functionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsmay include a first functionality to restart a programming content inthe first disparate live media output stream that is presented on atleast the first client device, such as the client device 132 a. Inaccordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights may include a secondfunctionality to skip to a future scheduled programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream. In accordance with anotherembodiment, the one or more functionalities enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights may include a third functionality to time-shiftwithin the programming content in the first disparate live media outputstream. In accordance with another embodiment, the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rights mayinclude a fourth functionality to resume playback within the programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream. In accordancewith an embodiment, the one or more constraints and rights associatedwith at least the first disparate live media output stream may beretrieved from the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the indexing and storage system 116 ofthe DACIS 103 may be configured to receive instructions from the streampublishing engine 114 to begin indexing of the one or more pre-encodedmedia assets and/or the one or more live input streams referenced in thepublished first programming schedule 111. The indexing and storagesystem 116 of the DACIS 103 may be further configured to record contentof manifest data that may correspond to one or both of the one or morepre-encoded media assets and/or the one or more live input streams,including any variants defined in a master manifest. The manifest datamay define at least an associated media content, one or more programmingindicators (such as SCTE messages), timing metadata, one or more mediacontent identifiers, and one or more contextual event identifiers. Thetiming metadata may correspond to the playback position in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111. The indexing and storage system 116 ofthe DACIS 103 may further process the manifest data to create theindexed metadata. The indexed metadata may define one or more programindicators (such as program start/end) and calculated durations, aprogram identification (that correspond to a programming content that iscurrently playing), non-programming content indicators (such as Ad breakstart/end) and calculated durations, a non-programming contentidentification (that correspond to Ads that are currently playing), andone or more event markers (such as blackout notifications). Inaccordance with an embodiment, the indexing and storage system 116 ofthe DACIS 103 may be configured to maintain the manifest data and theindexed metadata to encompass a time-range specified in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111.

In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 maybe configured to generate the indexed first disparate live media outputstream for the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,based on the published first programming schedule 111. In accordancewith an embodiment, the content delivery system 130 of the DACIS 103 maybe configured to present the generated indexed first disparate livemedia output stream on the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a.

In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 maybe configured to receive a client request from the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, based on the playback of the indexedfirst disparate live media output stream at the first client device,such as the client device 132 a. The client request may comprise atleast a program identifier referenced in the published first programmingschedule 111 with respect to the playback position in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111. The programming identifier may beassociated with a programming content that may be selected based on auser input provided at the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a. Examples of the user input may include, but not limitedto, a selection of the programming content from a list of programmingcontent or a selection of a restart or resume option to initiatecorresponding operation at the DACIS 103 operation. The client requestmay be generated by the first client device, such as the client device132 a, based on the user input while the first disparate live mediaoutput stream (returned from the DACIS 103) is played back at the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a.

Based on the user input, the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, may instruct the DACIS 103 to perform an operation, suchas restart, skip, time-shift, or resume, in accordance with one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least the first disparate live media output stream.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the one or more functionalitiescorrespond to the first functionality to restart the programming contentin the first disparate live media output stream, at least the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, may be configured todetermine the program identifier of a programming content that iscurrently or recently played back in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream. The program identifier of the programming content may bedetermined based on a request for a list of programming content, via forexample an electronic program guide, associated with the first disparatelive media output stream from the repository of schedules, rights, anduser preferences database 144.

As the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, plays thefirst disparate live media output stream returned from the DACIS 103,the user input may be provided to restart the programming content thatis currently or recently played back in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream, in accordance with the first functionality defined in thepublished first programming schedule 111. Based on the user input, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured toreceive the client request from the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a. The client request thus received, includes theprogram identifier for the programming content (that is currently orrecently played back in the first disparate live media output stream inaccordance with the first functionality defined in the published firstprogramming schedule 111) to be restarted.

The stream publishing engine 114 may query the indexing and storagesystem 116 with the received program identifier. The indexing andstorage system 116 may provide the manifest data and indexed metadata ofthe programming content associated with the program identifier back tothe stream publishing engine 114. The stream publishing engine 114 mayvalidate against the published first programming schedule 111 that theprogramming content is eligible for a restart. If the programmingcontent is found to be ineligible for the restart, the stream publishingengine 114 may ignore the client request and continue with the playbackof the first disparate live media output stream. However, theprogramming content is found to be eligible for the restart, the streampublishing engine 114 may insert the manifest data and indexed metadataof the programming content associated with the program identifier to thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with thefirst functionality. Accordingly, the stream publishing engine 114 mayalter the first disparate live media output stream, based on theinsertion of the manifest data and indexed metadata associated with theprogram identifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111.Such an altered first disparate live media output stream may comprisethe manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playbackposition. Thus, the stream publishing engine 114 may alter the firstdisparate live media output stream to start playing out the programmingcontent, as specified by the program identifier from the starting point.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiescorrespond to the second functionality to skip to a future scheduledprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream. Insuch an embodiment, the second functionality is allowed for a first setof pre-encoded media content or the live input stream that comprises asecond set of pre-encoded media content. As the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, plays the first disparate live mediaoutput stream returned from the DACIS 103, the user input may beprovided to select a future scheduled programming content from a list ofprogramming content (that corresponds to upcoming programming content),in accordance with the second functionality defined in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111. In such an embodiment, at least thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, may be configuredto determine the program identifier based on selection of the futurescheduled programming content from the list of programming contentassociated with the first disparate live media output stream from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.Based on the user input, the stream publishing engine 114 may receivethe client request from the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, to start the selected future scheduled programmingcontent, in accordance with the second functionality defined in thepublished first programming schedule 111. The client request thusreceived, includes the program identifier for the future scheduledprogramming content to be skipped to and get started with.

The stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may query the indexingand storage system 116 with the received program identifier. Theindexing and storage system 116 may provide the manifest data andindexed metadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier back to the stream publishing engine 114. The streampublishing engine 114 may validate against the published firstprogramming schedule 111 that the selected future scheduled programmingcontent is eligible for a playback at a time of the client request. Ifthe eligibility of the selected future scheduled programming content isdetermined to be invalid, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS103 may ignore the client request and the playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream is continued at the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, as per the published firstprogramming schedule 111. If the eligibility of the selected futurescheduled programming content is determined to be valid, the streampublishing engine 114 may insert the manifest data and indexed metadataof the programming content associated with the program identifier to thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with thesecond functionality. Accordingly, the stream publishing engine 114 mayalter the first disparate live media output stream, based on theinsertion of the manifest data and indexed metadata associated with theprogram identifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111.Such an altered first disparate live media output stream may comprisethe manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playbackposition. Thus, the stream publishing engine 114 may play out theselected future scheduled programming content associated with theprogram identifier in the manifest data, the indexed metadata and theupdated playback position, corresponding to a starting point of theselected future scheduled programming, of the altered first disparatelive media output stream.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesinclude the third functionality to time-shift within the programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream. In such anembodiment, the first disparate live media output stream manifestassociated with the first disparate live media output stream presentedat the client interface of the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, comprises timing metadata. The timing metadata maycomprise embedded time-based identifiers corresponding to media segmentsin the first disparate live media output stream.

The program identifier of the programming content may be determinedbased on a request for a list of programming content, via for example anelectronic program guide, associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream from the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. The list of programming content may compriseadditional metadata that may control the third functionality whichcorresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights in the published first programming schedule 111.

In accordance with an embodiment, the client interface may be presentedat the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, inaccordance with the third functionality. Accordingly, a seeking optionwithin the programming content in the first disparate live media outputstream may be enabled at the client interface of at least the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a. The seeking option maybe enabled in accordance with a default playback buffer of at least thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, when theprogramming content that is currently played back does not allow for thethird functionality. In accordance with another embodiment, a seekingoption within each programming content in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream may be enabled at the client interface of at least thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, when theprogramming content that is currently played back allows for the thirdfunctionality. The seeking operation forwards in time may be enabled upto a latest published media segment within the first disparate livemedia output stream manifest. In accordance with another embodiment, theseeking option, such as a seeking operation backwards in time, isenabled within each programming content. The seeking operation backwardsin time continues into a prior programming content when the seekingoperation backwards in time reaches a starting point of the programmingcontent that is currently played back and the third functionality of theprior programming content is enabled.

As the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, plays thefirst disparate live media output stream returned from the DACIS 103,the user input may be provided to select one of the above seekingoptions, such as the seeking operation forwards in time or the seekingoperation backwards in time, in accordance with the third functionalitydefined in the published first programming schedule 111.

Based on the user input, the stream publishing engine 114 may receivethe client request from the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, to time-shift within the programming content in the firstdisparate live media output stream, in accordance with the thirdfunctionality. The client request thus received, includes the programidentifier for the programming content (within which the time-shift isto be performed) and a seeking position to which playback is to betime-shifted to. The stream publishing engine 114 may query the indexingand storage system 116 with the received program identifier and theseeking position to which playback is to be time-shifted to. Theindexing and storage system 116 may determine the manifest data andindexed metadata corresponding to the programming content, correspondingto the first programming schedule 111, in proximity to the seekingposition for the seeking operation and returns to the stream publishingengine 114. The stream publishing engine 114 may insert the determinedmanifest data and indexed metadata of the programming content associatedwith the program identifier to the first disparate live media outputstream manifest in accordance with the third functionality. The streampublishing engine 114 may alter the first disparate live media outputstream, based on the insertion of the determined manifest data andindexed metadata associated with the program identifier referenced inthe first programming schedule 111. Such an altered first disparate livemedia output stream may comprise the manifest data, the indexed metadataand an updated playback position. The stream publishing engine 114 mayplay out the programming content associated with the program identifierin the manifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playbackposition, of the altered first disparate live media output stream. Thealtered first disparate live media output stream may be viewed at thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesinclude the fourth functionality to resume playback within theprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream. Insuch an embodiment, the first disparate live media output streammanifest associated with the first disparate live media output streamcomprises timing metadata. The timing metadata may comprise embeddedtime-based identifiers corresponding to media segments in the firstdisparate live media output stream. In accordance with an embodiment,the client interface may be presented at the first client device, suchas the client device 132 a, in accordance with the fourth functionalitywhich corresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one ormore constraints and rights. The first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, may proceed to playback the first disparate live mediaoutput stream. As the playback occurs, the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, remains updated about the current playback timeas provided by the embedded time-based identifiers in the timingmetadata corresponding to media segments in the first disparate livemedia output stream. As the first disparate live media output stream isplayed back at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,a user input may be provided, which may correspond to a pause operationor a termination operation of the playback of the first disparate livemedia output stream at the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a.

Based on the pause operation or a termination operation, a streamidentifier of the first disparate live media output stream, the programidentifier of the programming content that is currently playing back,and the timing metadata within the first disparate live media outputstream may be captured by at least the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 may be configured to receive the client requestfrom the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, or thesecond client device, such as the client device 132 b, to resumeplayback of the first disparate live media output stream on at least oneof the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, or thesecond client device, such as the client device 132 b. The streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be further configured tocheck that if programming content that is currently played back does notallow for the fourth functionality, proceed with playout of theprogramming content from live point. Else, the stream publishing engine114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to determine the firstprogramming schedule 111 from the set of programming schedulesassociated with the stream identifier from the indexing and storagesystem 116 based on the timing metadata in the client request.

In accordance with an embodiment, for an altered schedule, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to determine analternate representation of the first disparate live media output streambased on the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144 or third-party systems. The stream publishing engine 114 inthe DACIS 103 may be further configured to reconstruct the firstdisparate live media output stream for an alteed schedule associatedwith the stream identifier, the program identifier, and the timingmetadata, and generate a second disparate live media output stream basedon the insertion of the manifest data and indexed metadata of theprogramming content associated with the program identifier referenced inaltered schedule, in addition to stream identifier and timing metadata.The programming content associated with the program identifier in themanifest data, indexed metadata and updated playback position, of thesecond disparate live media output stream may then be played out by thestream publishing engine 114.

In accordance with another embodiment, for an unaltered schedule, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured toinsert the manifest data and the indexed metadata of the programmingcontent associated with the program identifier to the first disparatelive media output stream manifest in accordance with the fourthfunctionality. The stream publishing engine 114 may be furtherconfigured to generate the second disparate live media output stream,based on the insertion of the determined manifest data and indexedmetadata associated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule 111, in addition to the stream identifier and thetiming metadata. Such a generated second disparate live media outputstream may comprise the manifest data, the indexed metadata, and theupdated playback position for resuming at one or both of the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, and the second clientdevice, such as client device 132 b, as requested. Accordingly, thestream publishing engine 114 may be configured to play out theprogramming content associated with the program identifier in themanifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playback position,of the second disparate live media output stream.

FIG. 2 illustrates segmentation of live input streams and pre-encodedmedia assets for the first programming schedule 111 or the alternateprogramming schedule 113 for publishing a disparate per-client livemedia output stream based on dynamic insertion of targetednon-programming content and customized programming content by the DACIS103 of FIG. 1B, and for server-side dynamic insertion of programmingcontent in an indexed disparate live media output stream, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to the exemplaryarrangement of FIG. 2, there is shown a first live input stream 202, afirst pre-encoded media asset 204, and a second live input stream 206.There is also shown a targeted first non-programming content 208 placedafter the first live input stream 202, and a customized firstprogramming content 210 placed after the first pre-encoded media asset204. The first live input stream 202 may be segmented into a first setof video segments 202 a, 202 b, 202 c, . . . , 202 n. Similarly, thefirst pre-encoded media asset 204 and the second live input stream 206may also be segmented into second set of video segments 204 a, 204 b,204 c, . . . , 204 n, and third set of video segments 206 a, 206 b, 206c, . . . , 206 n respectively. By way of example, the segmentation maybe executed by a segmenting system (for example a live streamencoder/packager and/or a content encoder/packager (not shown)) during apreparation stage of the media assets. The encode stage may createvarious quality levels and the package stage segments the content intothe short segments, and produces the correct format, such as TS, fMP4,or CMAF and encrypts the media content to prevent piracy. In accordancewith an embodiment, the segments of the first set of video segments 202a, 202 b, 202 c, . . . , 202 n, the second set of video segments 204 a,204 b, 204 c, . . . , 204 n, and third set of video segments 206 a, 206b, 206 c, . . . , 206 n, may be segmented into consistent length, forexample, 10 seconds segments. It may be advantageous to have aconsistent and smaller file size of segments to be able to quickly pushto the content delivery system 130, and also for quick downloading by amedia player at the end-user side, such as on the plurality of consumerdevices 110 a, . . . , 110 n.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changesmay be made and segments of different file sizes (or length) may be usedwithout departure from the scope of the present disclosure. Further,other streaming protocols may require a different processing of mediacontent. Thus, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to theprocessing or preparation of media content to allow delivery usingdifferent delivery methods, streaming protocols, or distribution system,known in the art. Further, instead of the live input streams andpre-encoded media asset arranged, as shown, different arrangements perthe first programming schedule 111 or the alternate programming schedule113 may be possible with respect to interstitial content items, such asthe targeted first non-programming content 208 and the customized firstprogramming content 210.

The insertion of the live input stream manifests, pre-encoded mediaasset manifests, the targeted first non-programming content 208 and thecustomized first programming content 210 may be done on-the-fly based ondynamic scheduling by the PEM 115 that generates the first programmingschedule 111 or the alternate programming schedule 113. The insertionmay be driven by real time or near-real time content context analysis,user-selection on the consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n, or drivenby external data received from the external data source 120. The PEM 115in association with the stream selection service 142 may be configuredto insert live input streams, such as the first live input stream 202and the second live input stream 206, or pre-stored media assets, suchas the first pre-encoded media asset 204, the targeted firstnon-programming content 208 and the customized first programming content210, in an existing disparate live media output stream based onmanipulation of a manifest the existing disparate live media outputstream, such as an existing channel.

In accordance with an embodiment, each segment of the first set of videosegments 202 a, 202 b, 202 c, . . . , 202 n, the second set of videosegments 204 a, 204 b, 204 c, . . . , 204 n, and third set of videosegments 206 a, 206 b, 206 c, . . . , 206 n, may be further processed tobe stored at various quality levels, and content encryption modes forthe purposes of adaptive bitrate streaming and digital rightsmanagement, for example, the video segment 202 a may be stored in aplurality of quality levels, for example, high definition (HD), highdynamic range (HDR) video, or different quality levels in accordancewith specified pixel resolutions, bitrates, frame rates, and/or samplefrequencies. As each of the media content, such as 202 to 206, areencoded, segmented, and stored with the plurality of quality levels in amedia content master storage system. The media content may be re-used tocreate new channels, such as a new disparate live media output stream,without having to re-encode a selected live input stream or apre-encoded media asset when a new disparate live media output stream iscreated using the live input streams or a pre-encoded media asset.

For the sake of brevity, and with reference to FIG. 2, there is shown anexample of publishing the first or the updated (or alternate) disparatelive media output streams based on dynamic insertion of targetednon-programming content and customized programming content by the DACIS103 of FIG. 1B. It is to be understood that media packaging fordifferent delivery methods (such as analog terrestrial broadcast,digital terrestrial broadcast, direct-to-home satellite broadcast,cable, other Internet Protocol (IP)-based delivery methods, over-the-toptelevision (OTT)), different streaming protocols, or distributionsystem, may be different. The media content may be prepared to be viewedone or more of the plurality of consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n,based on at least the desired delivery method, delivery conditions,content protection requirements, to satisfy operational and technicalrequirements, as needed. The operational and technical requirements mayinclude, but are not limited to, media encoding, media segmentation,programming schedule (or manifest) creation or manipulationrequirements, desired media encryption, and/or metadata signalingrequirements. For example, in certain scenarios and for certain mediacontent delivery methods, network bandwidth, network conditions, ordevice-type where media content is to be consumed may not be variable orknown in advance. In such a case, creating different quality levels forsame media content may not be required. Further, based on differentoperational and technical requirements, publishing of disparate livemedia output stream may be different. The media content that is preparedand distributed may include both the programming content, such aslong-form presentations, short-form presentations, news or sportingevents; and non-programming content, such as paid advertisements, publicservice advertisements, or promotional material.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario associated with publishing adisparate live media output stream by the DACIS 103 of FIG. 1B, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Referring tothe exemplary scenario 300, there are illustrated two disparate livemedia output streams 302 and 304 published for two users associated withthe client devices 132 a and 132 n, respectively. The disparate livemedia output stream 302 may be existing disparate live media outputstream for the client device 132 a. The disparate live media outputstream 304 may be a disparate per-client live media output streampublished based on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programming contentand customized programming content by the DACIS 103 of FIG. 1B for theclient device 132 n.

The live NBA game may be scheduled to start at 8:00 pm. However, a userassociated with the client device 132 n tunes in early to watch the NBAgame, for example at 7:15 pm. However, the user may not be interested inwatching the end of the current programming media content. In such acase, the PEM 115 in the DACIS 103 may determine targetednon-programming content, such as sports items ads, and customizedprogramming content, such as NBA highlights of previous game andgenerates the alternate programming schedule 113. Accordingly, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may publish an alternatedisparate live media output stream 117 n for the client device 132 n. At8:00 pm, the DACIS 103 may switch back to the live NBA game scheduled at8:00 pm.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary disparate live media output streammanifest, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.Referring to an exemplary scenario 300A, there is illustrated adisparate live media output stream manifest 302 published for a userassociated with the first client device, such as client device 132 a.There are shown indexed media segments corresponding to four differentprogramming content P1, P2, P3 and P4, with program start markers PS1,PS2, PS3, and PS4, respectively, scheduled as per the first programmingschedule 111. Each of the programming content P1, P2, P3 and P4, isshown to comprise five indexed segments. In accordance with theexemplary embodiment, there is shown the program start marker PS2corresponding to the program start/restart identifier associated withthe second programming content P2, which is the currently playingprogramming content. There are further shown a live point LP thatcorresponds to the current playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule, a live edge LE that corresponds to the trailingedge of the live window, a join point JP that corresponds to a pointwhen the user associated with the client device 132 a joins to view thedisparate live media output stream 302.

In accordance with a first use case corresponding to the firstfunctionality to restart programming content, such as the programmingcontent P2, in a disparate live media output stream, the user mayprovide a user input at the client device 132 a to restart theprogramming content P2 that is currently being played back. The currentplayback position as per the published first programming schedule 111corresponds to the live point LP. The DACIS 103 may be configured toinsert the manifest data and indexed metadata of the second programmingcontent P2 associated with the program identifier (of the programmingcontent P2) to the disparate live media output stream manifest 302 andgenerate a corresponding altered disparate live media output stream thatcomprises the manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updatedplayback position. The updated playback position as per the publishedfirst programming schedule 111 corresponds to the program start markerPS2.

In accordance with a second use case corresponding to the secondfunctionality to skip to a future scheduled programming content, such asthe programming content P4, in the disparate live media output stream,the user may provide a user input at the client device 132 a to skip tothe programming content P4 from the live point LP corresponding to theprogramming content P2 (that is currently being played back). The DACIS103 may be configured to insert the manifest data and indexed metadataof the fourth programming content P4 associated with the programidentifier (of the programming content P4) to the disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest 302 and generate a corresponding altereddisparate live media output stream that comprises the manifest data, theindexed metadata and an updated playback position. The updated playbackposition as per the published first programming schedule 111 correspondsto the program start marker PS4 of the programming content P4. In suchcase, the media segments of the programming content P4 may correspond toa pre-encoded media asset converted to a live stream.

In accordance with a third use case corresponding to the thirdfunctionality to time-shift within a programming content, such as theprogramming content P1, in the disparate live media output stream, theuser may provide a user input at the client device 132 a to time-shiftto the programming content P1 from the live point LP corresponding tothe programming content P2 (that is currently being played back). TheDACIS 103 may be configured to insert the manifest data and indexedmetadata of the programming content P1 associated with the programidentifier (of the programming content P1) and seeking point SP to thedisparate live media output stream manifest 302 and generate acorresponding altered disparate live media output stream that comprisesthe manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playbackposition. The updated playback position as per the published firstprogramming schedule 111 corresponds to the seeking point SP of theprogramming content P1.

In accordance with a fourth use case corresponding to the fourthfunctionality to resume playback within the programming content, such asthe programming content P2, in the disparate live media output stream,the user may provide a user input at the client device 132 a to resumeplayback of the programming content P2 from the live point LP at theother client device 132 b. The DACIS 103 may be configured toreconstruct the disparate live media output stream manifest based on thestream identifier, the program identifier, and the timing metadata(corresponding to the live point LP). The user then switches to theclient device 132 b and playback is resumed using the state (saved bythe client device 132 a corresponding to the stream identifier, theprogram identifier, and the timing metadata) from the live point LP.

FIGS. 4A to 4D depict flowcharts illustrating exemplary operations forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content in the media packaging and distribution system 102of FIG. 1B, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thedisclosure. Specifically, flowcharts 400A and 400B collectively depictsa method for just-in-time insertion of non-programming content and/orprogramming content, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.Flowchart 400C depicts a method for personalized insertion ofnon-programming content and/or programming content, in accordance withan embodiment of the disclosure. Flowchart 400E depicts a method forstream failover, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, flowcharts 400A and 400B collectivelydepicts a method for just-in-time insertion of non-programming contentand/or programming content, in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

At 402A, a first manifest request may be received from a first clientdevice. In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to receive the first manifest request from the first clientdevice, such as a client device 132 a, to begin or continue playback ofa first disparate live media output stream, for example the disparatelive media output stream 117 a. The first manifest request may compriseone or more parameters. Examples of the one or more parameters mayinclude, but are not limited to, universal resource locators and/oridentifiers referencing records for existing one or more live inputstreams or one or more pre-encoded media assets in the CPDS 107, aplurality of client-specific parameters, and a plurality ofclient-specified attributes derived from a user interaction with thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a. Examples of theplurality of client-specific parameters may include, but are not limitedto, user preferences and identifiers, client device preferences andidentifiers, and one or more rules governed by geolocation data andcurrent position of playback of a first disparate live media outputstream, such as the disparate live media output stream 117 a, at thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a. In an embodiment,the client-specified attributes derived from a user interaction with thefirst client device may include, but are not limited to, the userinteraction with interactive content in a customized first programmingcontent and a targeted first non-programming content, and a preferencefor a type and/or category of the targeted first non-programming contentand/or the customized first programming content. The user interactionwith the interactive content may comprise, for example, a selection toexclude the targeted first non-programming content and/or the customizedfirst programming content, a selection to include a subset of thetargeted first non-programming content and/or the customized firstprogramming content, and a selection to include all of the targetedfirst non-programming content and/or the customized first programmingcontent within one or more specified non-programming content locations.

At 404A, the received first manifest request that comprises one or moreparameters may be transmitted to the stream selection service 142. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmitthe received first manifest request that comprises the one or moreparameters to the stream selection service 142.

In an embodiment, based on the received first manifest request, thestream selection service 142 may be configured to select one or morelive input streams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets based onthe one or more parameters and additional parameters retrieved from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.Accordingly, the stream selection service 142 may be configured toreturn universal resource locators and/or identifiers that referencerecords for the selected one or more live input streams and/or one ormore pre-encoded media assets to the PEM 115.

At 406A, the universal resource locators and/or identifiers thatreference records for the selected one or more live input streams and/orone or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parametersand additional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144 may be received. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to receivethe universal resource locators and/or identifiers that referencerecords for the selected one or more live input streams and/or one ormore pre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parameters andadditional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144.

At 408A, the received first manifest request may be transmitted to theCPDS 107 based on the selected one or more live input streams and/or oneor more pre-encoded media assets. In an embodiment, the PEM 115 of theDACIS 103 may be configured to transmit the received first manifestrequest to the CPDS 107 based on the selected one or more live inputstreams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets.

In an embodiment, based on the received first manifest request, the CPDS107 may be configured to retrieve indexed metadata, for example,non-programming indicators, such as ad break locations, graphicaltreatment indicators, such as overlay markers/triggers, programmingindictors, such as SCTE35 markers and content duration. Accordingly, theCPDS 107 may be configured to return the indexed metadata to the PEM115.

At 410A, the indexed metadata may be received from the CPDS 107. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to receivethe indexed metadata from the CPDS 107. Examples of the indexed metadatamay include, but are not limited to, non-programming indicators, such asad break locations, graphical treatment indicators, such as overlaymarkers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35 markers andcontent duration, as described above.

At 412A, one or more content placement opportunities defined by themetadata associated with the one or more live input streams and/or oneor more pre-encoded media assets may be identified. In an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to identify the one ormore content placement opportunities defined by the metadata associatedwith the one or more live input streams and/or one or more pre-encodedmedia assets. Examples of the one or more content placementopportunities may include, but are not limited to, non-programmingindicators, such as ad break locations, graphical treatment indicators,such as overlay markers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35markers and personalized content opportunity. In an embodiment, for theidentified one or more content placement opportunities, the PEM 115 ofthe DACIS 103 may be configured to determine additional content, such asnon-programming content (such as advertisements), personalizedprogramming content (such as promotional content), graphical treatment(such as overlays), and one or more decision point locations.

At 414, a request may be transmitted to the Ad decisioning server 106 ato determine targeted first non-programming content. In an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmit the requestto the Ad decisioning server 106 a to determine the targeted firstnon-programming content.

In an embodiment, based on the request, the Ad decisioning server 106 amay be configured to identify the targeted first non-programmingcontent, such as an advertising or an graphical treatment content, to bescheduled in one or more content placement opportunities, based on theone or more parameters. In an embodiment, the Ad decisioning server 106a may be configured to identify the targeted first non-programmingcontent based on execution of a non-programming content service based onrules and conditions defined in additional parameters of the repositoryof schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144, and the one ormore parameters defined in the first manifest request. Accordingly, theAd decisioning server 106 a may be configured to transmit the identifiedtargeted first non-programming content to the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103.

At 416, the targeted first non-programming content may be received fromthe Ad decisioning server 106 a. In an embodiment, the PEM 115 of theDACIS 103 may be configured to receive the targeted firstnon-programming content from the Ad decisioning server 106 a.

At 418, a request may be transmitted to the CDS 105 to determine acustomized first programming content to match one or morepersonalization parameters. In an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS103 may be configured to transmit the request to the CDS 105. The CDS105 may determine a customized first programming content to match one ormore personalization parameters.

In an embodiment, based on the request, the CDS 105 may be configured toidentify the customized first programming content based on the one ormore parameters in the first manifest request, and the rules andconditions defined in the additional parameters of the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144. Accordingly, theCDS 105 may be configured to transmit the identified customized firstprogramming content to the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103.

At 420, the customized first programming content may be received fromthe CDS 105. In an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to receive the customized first programming content from theCDS 105.

At 422, a first additional content comprising the customized firstprogramming content and the targeted first non-programming content maybe determined for the first client device based on the one or moreparameters and the associated indexed metadata. In an embodiment, thePEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to determine the firstadditional content comprising the customized first programming content,received from the CDS 105, and the targeted first non-programmingcontent, received from the Ad decisioning server 106 a. The firstadditional content may be determined for the first client device, suchas the client device 132 a, based on the one or more parameters and theassociated indexed metadata, received from the CPDS 107.

At 424, a first programming schedule 111 may be generated for the firstclient device based on the selected one or more live input streamsand/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets, the associated indexedmetadata, and the determined first additional content. In an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to generate the firstprogramming schedule 111 for the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, based on selected one or more live input streams and/orthe one or more pre-encoded media assets, the associated indexedmetadata, and the determined first additional content.

In accordance with an embodiment, the generated first programmingschedule 111 may not include the first additional content, in accordancewith the one or more parameters in the first manifest request. Inaccordance with another embodiment, the generated first programmingschedule 111 may include the first additional content, in accordancewith the one or more parameters in the first manifest request. Inaccordance with another embodiment, the generated first programmingschedule 111 may include a subset of the first additional content, inaccordance with the one or more parameters in the first manifestrequest.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first additional content scheduledto be inserted, may be inserted into, for example, one or morepre-encoded assets in accordance with appropriate markers. Theappropriate markers may be defined in the metadata of the one or morepre-encoded assets, and rules and conditions defined in the repositoryof schedule, rights, and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the generated first programmingschedule 111 may define locations and types of one or more decisionpoints defined by the one or more content placement opportunities in theindexed metadata. The one or more decision points may be included in thefirst programming schedule 111. Within the first programming schedule111, the one or more decision points may define various types of thedecision points, for example, an Ad preference, skip next ad, skipfuture ads, watch ads immediately instead of at future ad locations, orpersonalized content preferences.

In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more pre-encoded media assets arescheduled and the one or more decision points, defined by the one ormore content placement opportunities, are inserted in the firstprogramming schedule 111. In such exemplary embodiment, the firstprogramming schedule 111 may be configured to control the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests to be published as, for example, thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest. Further, the firstprogramming schedule 111 may include, for example, segments, markers,the one or more content placement opportunities, up to and includingnext available decision point.

At 426, the first programming schedule 111 may be delivered to thestream publishing engine 114. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM115 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to deliver the first programmingschedule 111 to the stream publishing engine 114.

At 428, one or more live input stream manifests and/or one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests published in the content deliverysystem 130 may be selected. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to select theone or more live input stream manifests and/or the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests published in the content deliverysystem 130.

At 430, a plurality of media segments indicated by the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests and the one or more live input streammanifests, the associated indexed metadata, the targeted firstnon-programming content, and the customized first programming contentmay be indexed based on the first programming schedule 111 generated forthe first client device. In accordance with an embodiment, the indexingand storage system 116 may be configured to index the plurality of mediasegments indicated by the one or more pre-encoded media asset manifestsand the one or more live input stream manifests, the associated indexedmetadata, the targeted first non-programming content, and the customizedfirst programming content may be indexed based on the first programmingschedule 111 generated for the first client device, for example theclient device 132 a.

At 432, a first disparate live media output stream manifest for thefirst client device may be published based on insertion of the selectedone or more live input stream manifests and/or the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests, the associated indexed metadata, andthe determined first additional content, into the first disparate livemedia output stream manifest, in accordance with the first programmingschedule 111 generated for the first client device. In accordance withan embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to publish the first disparate live media output streammanifest for the first client device, for example the client device 132a. The publication may be based on insertion of the selected one or morelive input stream manifests and/or the one or more pre-encoded mediaasset manifests, the associated indexed metadata, and the determinedfirst additional content, into the first disparate live media outputstream manifest, in accordance with the first programming schedule 111generated for the first client device, for example the client device 132a.

At 434, the published first disparate live media output stream manifestmay be transmitted to a media player of the first client device forplayback of the first disparate live media output stream, for examplethe disparate live media output stream 117 a. In accordance with anembodiment, the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmit the publishedfirst disparate live media output stream manifest to the media player ofthe first client device for playback of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream, for example the disparate live media output stream 117 a.In accordance with an embodiment, the first disparate live media outputstream manifest for the first client device, for example the clientdevice 132 a, may be generated based on one of a pre-defined conversionmodes. The pre-defined conversion modes may correspond to conversion ofpre-encoded media assets to live stream mode, pre-encoded media assetsto live stream mode with scalable architecture, a live stream to livestream mode, and a mixed mode corresponding to switches betweenpre-encoded media assets and live streams.

In accordance with an embodiment, the published first disparate livemedia output stream manifest may be delivered to the first clientdevice, for example the client device 132 a. Accordingly, the mediaplayer of the first client device, for example the client device 132 a,may begin or continue playback of the first disparate live media outputstream 117 a. Further, the media player, during playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream 117 a at the first client device, forexample the client device 132 a, presents one or more decision pointsdefined by the interactive content to initiate a user interaction at thefirst client device, for example the client device 132 a.

In accordance with an embodiment, during the playback, in case adecision point exists, is enabled, and presented by the first clientdevice, for example the client device 132 a, the user of the clientdevice 132 a may interact with one or more interactive elements at thedecision point and influence (or modify) remaining first disparate livemedia output stream 117 a.

For example, in an embodiment of just-in-time non-programming contentinsertion, at the one or more decision points, the user interactioncorresponds to one of a desired selection corresponding to the userinteraction with one or more interactive elements, or a defaultselection corresponding to non-interaction of a user with the customizedfirst programming content and/or the targeted first non-programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream 117 a playedback by the media player. In another example, in an embodiment ofpersonalized content playlist, at the one or more decision points, theuser interaction corresponds to one of exclusion of the targeted firstnon-programming content or the customized first programming content andreplacement by default content, selection of alternate customized firstprogramming content, selection of a subsequent second programmingcontent, approval or disapproval of the selected customized firstprogramming content, exclusion of subsequent second non-programmingcontent for a remaining portion of the first disparate live media outputstream 117 a played back by the media player, selection of one or moretargeted first non-programming content of a specific category, orviewing of some or all of the targeted first non-programming contentimmediately to avoid some or all of the targeted first non-programmingcontent for the remaining portion of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream played back by the media player.

At 436, the user interaction may be received that corresponds to one ofa desired selection corresponding to the user interaction with one ormore interactive elements, or a default selection corresponding to anon-interaction of the user with the customized first programmingcontent and/or the targeted first non-programming content in the firstdisparate live media output stream 117 a played back by the mediaplayer. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103may be configured to receive the user interaction may be received. Theuser interaction may correspond to one of a desired selectioncorresponding to the user interaction with one or more interactiveelements, or a default selection corresponding to a non-interaction ofthe user with the customized first programming content and/or thetargeted first non-programming content in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream 117 a played back by the media player.

At 438, a remaining portion of the first programming schedule 111 thatgenerates the first disparate live media output stream 117 acorresponding to the first manifest request generated by the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, may be modified based onthe user interaction with the interactive content. In accordance with anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to modify theremaining portion of the first programming schedule 111 that generatesthe first disparate live media output stream 117 a corresponding to thefirst manifest request generated by the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a, based on the user interaction with the interactivecontent.

At 440, a desired selection or the default selection may be transmittedto an external storage system that is the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144. In accordance with anembodiment, the first client device, for example the client device 132a, may be configured to transmit the desired selection or the defaultselection to the external storage system that is the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user interaction ornon-interaction result may be sent to future client manifest requests toinfluence the remainder of the first disparate live media output stream117 a. This may allow for a user choice, such as to skip an ad, toresult with another manifest request to the DACIS 103 to update theexisting first disparate live media output stream 117 a with theintended behavior and affect playback of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream 117 a within the first client device.

Referring to FIG. 4C, flowchart 400C depicts a method for personalizedinsertion of playlist of non-programming content and/or programmingcontent, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

At 402B, a first manifest request may be received from a first clientdevice. In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to receive the first manifest request from the first clientdevice, such as a client device 132 a, to begin or continue playback ofa first disparate live media output stream, for example the disparatelive media output stream 117 a. The first manifest request may compriseone or more parameters. Examples of the one or more parameters mayinclude, but are not limited to, universal resource locators and/oridentifiers referencing records for existing one or more live inputstreams or one or more pre-encoded media assets in the CPDS 107, aplurality of client-specific parameters, and a plurality ofclient-specified attributes derived from a user interaction with thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a. Examples of theplurality of client-specific parameters may include, but are not limitedto, user preferences and identifiers, client device preferences andidentifiers, and one or more rules governed by geolocation data andcurrent position of playback of a first disparate live media outputstream, such as the disparate live media output stream 117 a, at thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a. In anotherembodiment, the client-specified attributes derived from a userinteraction with the first client device may include, but are notlimited to, a preference for a type and/or category of the targetedfirst non-programming content and/or the customized first programmingcontent, and a possible time constraint (or duration) to fill with thetargeted first non-programming content and/or the customized firstprogramming content. The user interaction with the interactive contentmay comprise, for example, a selection to exclude the targeted firstnon-programming content and/or the customized first programming content,a selection to include a subset of the targeted first non-programmingcontent and/or the customized first programming content, and a selectionto include all of the targeted first non-programming content and/or thecustomized first programming content within one or more specifiednon-programming content locations.

The user interaction with the interactive content may comprise, forexample, a selection to exclude the targeted first non-programmingcontent and/or the customized first programming content, a selection toinclude a subset of the targeted first non-programming content and/orthe customized first programming content, and a selection to include allof the targeted first non-programming content and/or the customizedfirst programming content within one or more specified non-programmingcontent locations.

At 404B, the received first manifest request that comprises one or moreparameters may be transmitted to the stream selection service 142. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmitthe received first manifest request that comprises the one or moreparameters to the stream selection service 142.

In an embodiment, based on the received first manifest request, thestream selection service 142 may be configured to select one or morelive input streams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets based onthe one or more parameters and additional parameters retrieved from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.Accordingly, the stream selection service 142 may be configured toreturn universal resource locators and/or identifiers that referencerecords for the selected one or more live input streams and/or one ormore pre-encoded media assets to the PEM 115.

At 406B, the universal resource locators and/or identifiers thatreference records for the selected one or more live input streams and/orone or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parametersand additional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144 may be received. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to receivethe universal resource locators and/or identifiers that referencerecords for the selected one or more live input streams and/or one ormore pre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parameters andadditional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144.

At 408B, the received first manifest request may be transmitted to theCPDS 107 based on the selected one or more live input streams and/or oneor more pre-encoded media assets. In an embodiment, the PEM 115 of theDACIS 103 may be configured to transmit the received first manifestrequest to the CPDS 107 based on the selected one or more live inputstreams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets.

In an embodiment, based on the received request, the CPDS 107 may beconfigured to retrieve indexed metadata, for example, non-programmingindicators, such as ad break locations, graphical treatment indicators,such as overlay markers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35markers, content duration, and categories (such as, “basketball”,“sports”, “Knicks”) to which the programming content has been assigned.

At 410B, the indexed metadata may be received from the CPDS 107. In anembodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to receivethe indexed metadata from the CPDS 107. Examples of the indexed metadatamay include, but are not limited to, non-programming indicators, such asad break locations, graphical treatment indicators, such as overlaymarkers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35 markers andcontent duration, as described above.

At 412B, one or more content placement opportunities defined by themetadata associated with the one or more live input streams and/or oneor more pre-encoded media assets may be identified. In an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to identify the one ormore content placement opportunities defined by the metadata associatedwith the one or more live input streams and/or one or more pre-encodedmedia assets. Examples of the one or more content placementopportunities may include, but are not limited to, non-programmingindicators, such as ad break locations, graphical treatment indicators,such as overlay markers/triggers, programming indictors, such as SCTE35markers and personalized content opportunity. In an embodiment, for theidentified one or more content placement opportunities, the PEM 115 ofthe DACIS 103 may be configured to determine additional content, such asnon-programming content (such as advertisements), personalizedprogramming content (such as promotional content), graphical treatment(such as overlays), and one or more decision point locations.

At 442, a request may be transmitted to the CDS 105 to determine acustomized first programming content from the CPDS 107 for matching oneor more personalization parameters. In accordance with an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmit a request tothe CDS 105 to determine the customized first programming content fromthe CPDS 107 for matching one or more personalization parameters.Examples of the one or more personalization parameters may include, butare not limited to, user preferences and identifiers from the firstmanifest request or retrieved from the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144, and time constraints. The timeconstraints may be determined based on user preferences retrieved fromthe repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144,a range defined in the first manifest request, and schedule tolerancesdefined in the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144, client device preferences or identifiers from the firstmanifest request or retrieved from the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144, geolocation information from thefirst manifest request or retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144, and/or a contentrecommendation engine.

At 444, the first programming schedule 111 may be generated for thefirst client device based on the selected one or more live input streamsand/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets, the associated indexedmetadata, and the determined first additional content. In accordancewith an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured togenerate the first programming schedule 111 for the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, based on the selected one or more liveinput streams and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets, theassociated indexed metadata, and the determined first additionalcontent.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first additional content scheduledto be inserted, may be inserted into, for example, one or morepre-encoded assets in accordance with appropriate markers. Theappropriate markers may be defined in the metadata of the one or morepre-encoded assets, and rules and conditions defined in the repositoryof schedule, rights, and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the generated first programmingschedule 111 may define locations and types of one or more decisionpoints defined by the one or more content placement opportunities in theindexed metadata. Such one or more decision points may be included inthe first programming schedule 111. Within the first programmingschedule 111, the one or more decision points may define personalizedcontent preferences, skipping of personalized content and moving todefault content, and approval or disapproval of the personalizedcontent.

In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more pre-encoded media assets arescheduled and the one or more decision points, defined by the one ormore content placement opportunities, are inserted in the firstprogramming schedule 111. In such exemplary embodiment, the firstprogramming schedule 111 may be configured to control the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests to be published as, for example, thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest. Further, the firstprogramming schedule 111 may include, for example, segments, markers,the one or more content placement opportunities, up to and includingnext available decision point. Thereafter, control passes to 426 inflowchart 400B and exemplary operations till 440 may be performed insimilar manner as described above.

Referring to FIG. 4D, there is illustrated a flowchart 400D depicting amethod for stream failover, in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

At 402C, a first manifest request may be received from a first clientdevice. In accordance with an embodiment, the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to receive the first manifest request from the first clientdevice, such as a client device 132 a, to begin or continue playback ofa first disparate live media output stream, for example the disparatelive media output stream 117 a. The first manifest request may compriseone or more parameters. Examples of the one or more parameters mayinclude, but are not limited to, universal resource locators of existingone or more live input streams, identifiers referencing records forexisting one or more live input streams or one or more pre-encoded mediaassets in the CPDS 107, and a plurality of client-specific parameters.Examples of the plurality of client-specific parameters may include, butare not limited to, user preferences and identifiers, client devicepreferences and identifiers, and one or more rules governed bygeolocation data and current position of playback of a first disparatelive media output stream, such as the disparate live media output stream117 a, at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.

At 404C, received first manifest request that comprises one or moreparameters may be transmitted to the stream selection service 142. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to transmit the received first manifest request thatcomprises the one or more parameters to the stream selection service142.

At 454, it may be determined that a set of criteria associated with thefirst disparate live media output stream is satisfied. In accordancewith an embodiment, the stream selection service 142 may be configuredto determine if the set of criteria associated with the first disparatelive media output stream is satisfied. The set of criteria may includean accessibility of the first disparate live media output stream, updateof the first disparate live media output stream and/or compatibility ofthe first disparate live media output stream having media and/or amanifest with the first manifest request. The stream selection service142 may be further configured to determine the one or more live inputstreams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one ormore parameters in the first manifest request, and additional parametersretrieved from the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144. The stream selection service 142 may be further configuredto determine the one or more live input streams and/or one or morepre-encoded media assets based on rules provided by a streamowner/operator (such as a regional blackout for the first client deviceleading to an alternative stream to watch) and user preferences (thatexclude certain categories) defined in the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the first disparate live mediaoutput stream is not accessible, the first disparate live media outputstream is not updated and/or the first disparate live media outputstream having media and/or manifest that is not compatible with thefirst manifest request. Further, in an absence of one or more live inputstreams, the stream selection service 142 may be configured to select apre-encoded asset indicated in the first manifest request to continueplayback as the first disparate live media output stream. In suchembodiment, control passes to operation 456. Otherwise, control passesto operation 406A of the flowchart 400A.

At 456, universal resource locators and/or identifiers that referencerecords for the selected one or more live input streams or alternate oneor more pre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parameters andadditional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144 may be received. In accordancewith an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured toreceive the universal resource locators and/or identifiers thatreference records for the selected one or more live input streams oralternate one or more pre-encoded media assets based on the one or moreparameters and additional parameters retrieved from the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.

At 458, a received first manifest request may be transmitted to the CPDS107 based on the selected one or more live input streams or alternateone or more pre-encoded media assets. In accordance with an embodiment,the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to transmit the receivedfirst manifest request to the CPDS 107 based on the selected one or morelive input streams or alternate one or more pre-encoded media assets.

At 460, alternate metadata for alternate additional content may bereceived from the CPDS 107. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM115 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to receive the alternate metadatafor the alternate additional content from the CPDS 107. The metadata mayinclude, for example, Ad break locations, overlay markers/triggers,SCTE35 markers/triggers, content duration, and one or more decisionpoints. The alternate metadata may further include a location totransition from the first additional content to the alternate additionalcontent.

At 462, a placement of alternate additional content within the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest may be determined based onthe associated indexed metadata and the alternate metadata. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the PEM 15 of the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to determine the placement of the alternate additionalcontent within the first disparate live media output stream manifestbased on the associated indexed metadata and the alternate metadata.

At 464, an alternate programming schedule may be generated for the firstclient device based on the alternate additional content and alternatemetadata. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM 15 of the DACIS 103may be configured to generate the alternate programming schedule for thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, based on thealternate additional content and alternate metadata.

At 466, a final disparate live output stream manifest may be publishedfor the first client device based on the generated alternate programmingschedule. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM 15 of the DACIS 103may be configured to publish the final disparate live output streammanifest for the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,based on the generated alternate programming schedule.

In accordance with an embodiment, the final disparate live output streammanifest for the first client device may be generated based on one ofthe pre-defined conversion modes. The pre-defined conversion modes maycorrespond to pre-encoded media assets to live stream mode, pre-encodedmedia assets to live stream mode with scalable architecture, a livestream to live stream mode, and a mixed mode corresponding to switchesbetween pre-encoded media assets and live streams.

In accordance with an embodiment, during playout, the first additionalcontent may be transitioned to the alternate additional content based onone or more transition parameters. The one or more transition parametersmay comprise one or more parameters from the first manifest request,current state of the first disparate live media output stream manifestdetermined based on accessibility, regular update, and suitableencoding, digital rights management, and compatibility with the firstclient device, rules provided by a stream owner operator, and userpreferences defined in the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144.

As described above in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the published final disparatelive output stream manifest may be transmitted to the media player ofthe first client device for playback of the final disparate live mediaoutput stream. Accordingly, the first client device begins or continuesthe playback of the final disparate live media output stream.

In an alternate embodiment, at 454, the stream selection service 142 maybe configured to select a second disparate live media output streamaccording to accessibility of the first disparate live media outputstream in case the set of criteria associated with the first disparatelive media output stream is not satisfied. The stream selection service142 may be configured to select the second disparate live media outputstream according to rules provided by a stream owner/operator and userpreferences defined in the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. The operations that follow may be performed ina similar manner, as the operations for the first disparate live mediaoutput stream are performed.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation for a media packaging and distribution system 102employing a processing system for publishing a disparate per-client livemedia output stream based on dynamic insertion of targetednon-programming content and customized programming content, and forserver-side dynamic insertion of programming content in an indexeddisparate live media output stream, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 5, the hardwareimplementation shown by a representation 500 for the media packaging anddistribution system 102 employs a processing system 502 for publishing adisparate per-client live media output stream based on dynamic insertionof targeted non-programming content and customized programming content,and for server-side dynamic insertion of programming content in anindexed disparate live media output stream, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure, as described herein.

In some examples, the processing system 502 may comprise one or morehardware processors 504, a non-transitory computer-readable medium 506,a bus 508, a bus interface 510, and a transceiver 512. FIG. 5 furtherillustrates the DACIS 103, the CDS 105, the CPDS 107, the streampublishing engine 114, PEM 115, indexing and storage system 116, thestream selection service 142, and the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144, as described in detail in FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

The hardware processor 504 may be configured to manage the bus 508 andgeneral processing, including the execution of a set of instructionsstored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium 506. The set ofinstructions, when executed by the processor 504, causes the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 to execute the various functionsdescribed herein for any particular apparatus. The hardware processor504 may be implemented, based on a number of processor technologiesknown in the art. Examples of the hardware processor 504 may be aReduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, anApplication-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, a ComplexInstruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, and/or other processors orcontrol circuits.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium 506 may be used for storingdata that is manipulated by the processor 504 when executing the set ofinstructions. The data is stored for short periods or in the presence ofpower. The non-transitory computer-readable medium 506 may also beconfigured to store data for one or more of the DACIS 103, the CDS 105,the CPDS 107, the stream publishing engine 114, PEM 115, indexing andstorage system 116, the stream selection service 142, and the repositoryof schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.

The bus 508 is configured to link together various circuits. In thisexample, the media packaging and distribution system 102 employing theprocessing system 502 and the non-transitory computer-readable medium506 may be implemented with bus architecture, represented generally bybus 508. The bus 508 may include any number of interconnecting buses andbridges depending on the specific implementation of the media packagingand distribution system 102 and the overall design constraints. The businterface 510 may be configured to provide an interface between the bus508 and other circuits, such as, transceiver 512, and external devices,such as source device 118, external data source 120, and client devices132 a, . . . , 132 n.

The transceiver 512 may be configured to provide a communication of themedia packaging and distribution system 102 with various otherapparatus, such as the Ad decisioning servers 106 a, . . . , 106 n, theconsumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n, such as the client devices 132 a,. . . , 132 n, the external data source 120, and the source device 118,via the network 108. The transceiver 512 may communicate via wirelesscommunication with networks, such as the Internet, the Intranet and/or awireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless localarea network (WLAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN). Thewireless communication may use any of a plurality of communicationstandards, protocols and technologies, such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Long TermEvolution (LTE), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), codedivision multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA),Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (such as IEEE 802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP), and/or Wi-MAX.

It should be recognized that, in some embodiments of the disclosure, oneor more components of FIG. 5 may include software whose correspondingcode may be executed by at least one processor, for across multipleprocessing environments. For example, the DACIS 103, the CDS 105, theCPDS 107, the stream publishing engine 114, PEM 115, indexing andstorage system 116, the stream selection service 142, and the repositoryof schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144 may includesoftware that may be executed across a single or multiple processingenvironments.

In an aspect of the disclosure, the processor 504, the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium 506, or a combination of both may be configuredor otherwise specially programmed to execute the operations orfunctionality of the DACIS 103, the CDS 105, the CPDS 107, the streampublishing engine 114, PEM 115, indexing and storage system 116, thestream selection service 142, and the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144, or various other components describedherein, as described with respect to FIGS. 1A to 4D, and FIGS. 6A to 6E.

FIGS. 6A to 6E collectively depict a flowchart illustrating exemplaryoperations for server-side dynamic insertion of programming content inan indexed disparate live media output stream by the DACIS of FIG. 1B,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. FIGS. 6Ato 6E are described in conjunction with FIG. 3A. Specifically, flowchart600A depicts a method for indexing a first disparate live media outputstream and presenting the indexed first disparate live media outputstream on a first client device, in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure. Flowchart 600B depicts a method for a first use case whenone or more functionalities include a first functionality to restartprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream, inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Flowchart 600C depictsa method for a second use case when one or more functionalities includea second functionality to skip to a future scheduled programming contentin the first disparate live media output stream, in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure. Flowchart 600D depicts a method for athird use case when one or more functionalities include a thirdfunctionality to time-shift within the programming content in the firstdisparate live media output stream, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe disclosure. Flowchart 600E depicts a method for a fourth use casewhen one or more functionalities include a fourth functionality toresume playback within the programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream, in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6A, there is illustrated a flowchart 600A depicting amethod for indexing a first disparate live media output stream andpresenting the indexed first disparate live media output stream on afirst client device, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

At 602, a first programming schedule that comprises one or morefunctionalities enabled via one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least a first disparate live media output stream, maybe published. In accordance with an embodiment, the PEM 115 of the DACIS103 may be configured to publish the first programming schedule 111 thatcomprises one or more functionalities enabled via one or moreconstraints and rights associated with at least the first disparate livemedia output stream.

In accordance with an embodiment, the published first programmingschedule 111 may reference one or more pre-encoded media assets and/orone or more live input streams for at least the first disparate livemedia output stream. Thus, the PEM 115 of the DACIS 103 may publish thefirst programming schedule 111 referencing at least one live inputstream or a pre-encoded asset as a source to be used in at least thefirst disparate live media output stream. In accordance with anembodiment, the one or more live input streams may comprise pre-encodedmedia assets. In accordance with another embodiment, the one or morelive input streams may comprise singularly encoded live input streams.Various media container formats of the live input streams and/orpre-encoded media assets may include, but are not limited to, transportstream (TS), fragmented MP4 (fMP4), Common Media Application Format(CMAF) and the like.

As discussed above, the first programming schedule 111 may indicate theone or more functionalities enabled via the one or more constraints andrights associated with at least the first disparate live media outputstream. In accordance with an embodiment, the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rights mayinclude a first functionality to restart a programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream that is presented on at leastthe first client device, such as the client device 132 a. In accordancewith another embodiment, the one or more functionalities enabled via theone or more constraints and rights may include a second functionality toskip to a future scheduled programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream. In accordance with another embodiment, the oneor more functionalities enabled via the one or more constraints andrights may include a third functionality to time-shift within theprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream. Inaccordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights may include and afourth functionality to resume playback within the programming contentin the first disparate live media output stream.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least the first disparate live media output streammay be retrieved from the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. The repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144 may be configured to store the one or moreconstraints and rights associated with disparate live media outputstreams that may be derived from one or more of schedules for all sourcefeeds, availability rights for all the content in the schedules,regional blackout zones for the various sports leagues, predefinedlocation-based viewing preferences, individual client viewingpreferences, and any viewing rules, transition rules, and business rulesprovided by or applicable to the stream owner operator.

At 604, the one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or the one or morelive input streams referenced in the published first programmingschedule 111 may be indexed. In accordance with an embodiment, theindexing and storage system 116 of the DACIS 103 may be configured toindex the one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or the one or morelive input streams.

At 604A, instructions from the stream publishing engine 114 to beginindexing of the one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or the one ormore live input streams referenced in the published first programmingschedule 111 may be received. In accordance with an embodiment, theindexing and storage system 116 of the DACIS 103 may be configured toreceive instructions from the stream publishing engine 114 to beginindexing of the one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or the one ormore live input streams referenced in the published first programmingschedule 111. The indexing and storage system 116 of the DACIS 103 maybe configured to fetch one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or theone or more live input streams referenced in the published firstprogramming schedule 111 from the CPDS 107. In accordance with anembodiment, the indexing and storage system 116 of the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to index the one or more live input streams repeatedly atvariable time intervals.

In accordance with an embodiment, the indexing and storage system 116 ofthe DACIS 103 may be further configured to record content of manifestdata that may correspond to one or both of the one or more pre-encodedmedia assets and/or the one or more live input streams, including anyvariants defined in a master manifest. The manifest data may correspondto one or both of an encoded live input stream and a pre-encoded mediaasset associated with the program identifier. The manifest data maydefine at least an associated media content, one or more programmingindicators (such as SCTE messages), timing metadata, one or more mediacontent identifiers, and one or more contextual event identifiers. Thetiming metadata may correspond to the playback position in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111.

At 604B, the manifest data may be processed to create the indexedmetadata. In accordance with an embodiment, the indexing and storagesystem 116 of the DACIS 103 may be further configured to process themanifest data to create the indexed metadata. The indexed metadata maydefine one or more program indicators (such as program start/end) andcalculated durations, a program identification (that correspond to aprogramming content that is currently playing), non-programming contentindicators (such as Ad break start/end) and calculated durations, anon-programming content identification (that correspond to Ads that arecurrently playing), and one or more event markers (such as blackoutnotifications).

At 604C, the manifest data and the indexed metadata may be maintained toencompass a time-range specified in the published first programmingschedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the indexing and storagesystem 116 of the DACIS 103 may be further configured to maintain themanifest data and the indexed metadata to encompass a time-rangespecified in the published first programming schedule 111. For example,the indexing and storage system 116 may keep 24 hours of indexedmetadata despite the live input stream being published in 5 minuteincrements.

At 606, the indexed first disparate live media output stream for thefirst client device may be generated based on the published firstprogramming schedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 of the DACIS 103 may be configured to generate theindexed first disparate live media output stream for the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, based on the published firstprogramming schedule 111. The stream publishing engine 114 may beconfigured to publish unique-to-client streaming manifests leveragingdifferent indexes created by the indexing and storage system 116 fromthe various live input streams, pre-encoded media assets, targetednon-programming content and customized programming content based on adefined per-client schedule, such as the published first programmingschedule 111. In other words, the stream publishing engine 114 of theDACIS 103 may be configured to generate the indexed first disparate livemedia output stream for the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, based on the indexed one or more pre-encoded media assetsand/or one or more live input streams, as the published firstprogramming schedule 111 now references indexed one or more pre-encodedmedia assets and/or the one or more live input streams.

At 608, the generated indexed first disparate live media output streamfor the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, may bepresented on the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.In accordance with an embodiment, the content delivery system 130 of theDACIS 103 may be configured to present the generated indexed firstdisparate live media output stream on the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a. The indexed first disparate live media outputstream may be provided to the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, via, for example, a transport stream, a segmentedstreaming, a progressive download, or any other modes of distributing amultimedia presentation, such as via an over-the-air contentdelivery/distribution network, a linear content delivery/distributionnetwork, a cable content delivery/distribution network, a satellitecontent delivery/distribution network, an Internet Protocol (IP) basedcontent delivery/distribution network, and/or the like.

At 610, a client request may be received from the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, based on a playback of the indexedfirst disparate live media output stream at the first client device,such as the client device 132 a. In accordance with an embodiment, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured toreceive the client request from the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a, based on the playback of the indexed firstdisparate live media output stream at the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a.

The client request may comprise at least the program identifierreferenced in the published first programming schedule 111 with respectto the playback position in the published first programming schedule111. In accordance with an embodiment, the playback position may be anindicator of a current play position within a media item of the firstdisparate live media output stream. For example, the playback positionmay be a displayed icon at the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, or a line that indicates a relative position of playbackwithin some other indicia (e.g., a displayed bar) of the total play timeof the media item.

In accordance with an embodiment, the program identifier may bespecified within the first disparate live media output stream manifestthat corresponds to the first disparate live media output stream for aspecific programming content, for example a programming content that iscurrently or recently played back. Such programming content may includeone or more media segments corresponding to at least an encoded liveinput stream and a pre-encoded media asset within a playout buffer ofthe first disparate live media output stream manifest. The programmingidentifier may be associated with a programming content that may beselected based on a user input provided at the first client device, suchas the client device 132 a. Examples of the user input may include, butnot limited to, a selection of the programming content from a list ofprogramming content or a selection of a restart or resume option toinitiate corresponding operation at the DACIS 103 operation.

The client request may be generated by the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, based on the user input while the firstdisparate live media output stream (returned from the DACIS 103) isplayed back at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.Based on the user input, the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, may instruct the DACIS 103 to perform an operation, suchas restart, skip, time-shift, or resume, in accordance with one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least the first disparate live media output stream.In accordance with various embodiments, the one or more functionalitiesmay include the first functionality to restart a programming content inthe first disparate live media output stream that is presented on atleast the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, thesecond functionality to skip to a future scheduled programming contentin the first disparate live media output stream, the third functionalityto time-shift within the programming content in the first disparate livemedia output stream, and the fourth functionality to resume playbackwithin the programming content in the first disparate live media outputstream.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the one or more functionalitiescorrespond to the first functionality to restart the programming contentin the first disparate live media output stream, control passes to step612 in the flowchart 600B. In such an embodiment, at least the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, may be configured todetermine the program identifier of a programming content that iscurrently or recently played back in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream. The program identifier of the programming content may bedetermined based on a request for a list of programming content, via forexample an electronic program guide, associated with the first disparatelive media output stream from the repository of schedules, rights, anduser preferences database 144. The list of programming content maycomprise additional metadata that may control the first functionality ofa current programming content and each of past programming content asenabled via the one or more constraints and rights in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111.

In accordance with another embodiment, the program identifier of theprogramming content may be specified within the first disparate livemedia output stream manifest. The first disparate live media outputstream manifest corresponds to the first disparate live media outputstream for the programming content that is currently or recently playedback and still within the live window of the published first disparatelive media output stream manifest, as shown in FIG. 3A.

As the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, plays thefirst disparate live media output stream returned from the DACIS 103,the user input may be provided to restart the programming content thatis currently or recently played back in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream, in accordance with the first functionality defined in thepublished first programming schedule 111.

Based on the user input, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS103 may be configured to receive the client request from the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a. The client request thusreceived, includes the program identifier for the programming content(that is currently or recently played back in the first disparate livemedia output stream in accordance with the first functionality definedin the published first programming schedule 111) to be restarted.

At 612, the indexing and storage system 116 may be queried with thereceived program identifier. In accordance with an embodiment, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to querythe indexing and storage system 116 with the received programidentifier. The stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may querythe indexing and storage system 116 for an appropriate manifest data andindexed metadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier.

At 614, manifest data and indexed metadata of the programming contentassociated with the program identifier may be provided back to thestream publishing engine 114. In accordance with an embodiment, theindexing and storage system 116 in the DACIS 103 may be configured toprovide the manifest data and indexed metadata of the programmingcontent associated with the program identifier back to the streampublishing engine 114. As discussed above, the manifest data may defineat least an associated media content, one or more programming indicators(such as SCTE messages), timing metadata, one or more media contentidentifiers, and one or more contextual event identifiers. The timingmetadata may correspond to the playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule 111.

At 616, it may be determined whether the eligibility of the programmingcontent is valid against the published first programming schedule 111for the restart. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be further configured to validateagainst the published first programming schedule 111 that theprogramming content is eligible for a restart. In accordance with anembodiment, the eligibility of the programming content is determined tobe invalid against the published first programming schedule 111 for therestart, and the control passes to 620. In accordance with anotherembodiment, the eligibility of the programming content is determined tobe valid against the published first programming schedule 111 for therestart, and the control passes to 622.

At 618, the client request may be ignored and playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream is continued at the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, as per the published firstprogramming schedule 111, when the eligibility of the programmingcontent is determined to be invalid against the published firstprogramming schedule 111 for the restart. In accordance with anembodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to ignore the client request and the playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream is continued at the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, as per the published firstprogramming schedule 111, when the eligibility of the programmingcontent is determined to be invalid against the published firstprogramming schedule 111 for the restart.

At 620, the manifest data and indexed metadata of the programmingcontent associated with the program identifier may be inserted to thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with thefirst functionality, when the programming content is eligible for therestart. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to insert the manifest data andindexed metadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier to the first disparate live media output stream manifest inaccordance with the first functionality, when the programming content iseligible for the restart.

At 620A, the first disparate live media output stream may be alteredbased on the insertion of the manifest data and indexed metadataassociated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to alter thefirst disparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of themanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111. Such analtered first disparate live media output stream may comprise themanifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playback position.

In accordance with various embodiments, the first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the first client device, such as the client device 132a, may be altered based on the insertion of the manifest data andindexed metadata in accordance with one of pre-defined conversion modes.The pre-defined conversion modes may correspond to pre-encoded mediaassets to live stream mode, pre-encoded media assets to live stream modewith scalable architecture, a live stream to live stream mode, and amixed mode corresponding to switching between pre-encoded media assetsand live streams.

At 620B, the manifest data of the first disparate live media outputstream manifest may be altered with the programming content associatedwith the program identifier from a starting point of the programmingcontent when the programming content is eligible for the restart. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in theDACIS 103 may be configured to alter the manifest data of the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest with the programming contentassociated with the program identifier from a starting point of theprogramming content when the programming content is eligible for therestart. Thus, the stream publishing engine 114 may alter the firstdisparate live media output stream to start playing out the programmingcontent, as specified by the program identifier from the starting point.

Referring back to step 610, in accordance with another embodiment, whenthe one or more functionalities correspond to the second functionalityto skip to a future scheduled programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream, control passes to step 626 in the flowchart600D. In such an embodiment, the second functionality is allowed for afirst set of pre-encoded media content or the live input stream thatcomprises a second set of pre-encoded media content. The programidentifier of the programming content may be determined based on arequest for a list of programming content, via for example an electronicprogram guide, associated with the first disparate live media outputstream from the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase 144. The list of programming content may comprise additionalmetadata that may control the second functionality of the futurescheduled programming content as enabled via the one or more constraintsand rights in the published first programming schedule 111.

As the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, plays thefirst disparate live media output stream returned from the DACIS 103,the user input may be provided to select a future scheduled programmingcontent from the list of programming content (that corresponds toupcoming programming content), in accordance with the secondfunctionality defined in the published first programming schedule 111.In such an embodiment, at least the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a, may be configured to determine the programidentifier based on selection of the future scheduled programmingcontent from the list of programming content associated with the firstdisparate live media output stream from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144. Thus, the program identifierreferenced in the published first programming schedule 111 correspondsto the selected future scheduled programming content that is scheduledto be played out during a future timestamp after a live point in aplayback buffer of the first disparate live media output stream.

Based on the user input, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS103 may be configured to receive the client request from the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, to start the selectedfuture scheduled programming content, in accordance with the secondfunctionality defined in the published first programming schedule 111.The client request thus received, includes the program identifier forthe future scheduled programming content to be skipped to and getstarted with.

At 626, the indexing and storage system 116 may be queried with thereceived program identifier. In accordance with an embodiment, thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to querythe indexing and storage system 116 with the received programidentifier. The stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may querythe indexing and storage system 116 for an appropriate manifest data andindexed metadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier.

At 628, manifest data and indexed metadata of the programming contentassociated with the program identifier may be provided back to thestream publishing engine 114. In accordance with an embodiment, theindexing and storage system 116 in the DACIS 103 may be configured toprovide the manifest data and indexed metadata of the programmingcontent associated with the program identifier back to the streampublishing engine 114. As discussed above, the manifest data may defineat least an associated media content, one or more programming indicators(such as SCTE messages), timing metadata, one or more media contentidentifiers, and one or more contextual event identifiers. The timingmetadata may correspond to the playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule 111.

At 630, it may be determined whether the eligibility of the selectedfuture scheduled programming content is valid against the publishedfirst programming schedule 111 for the playback at the time of theclient request. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be further configured to validateagainst the published first programming schedule 111 that the selectedfuture scheduled programming content is eligible for a playback at atime of the client request. In accordance with an embodiment, theeligibility of the selected future scheduled programming content isdetermined to be invalid against the published first programmingschedule 111 for the playback at the time of the client request, and thecontrol passes to 634. In accordance with another embodiment, theeligibility of the selected future scheduled programming content isdetermined to be valid against the published first programming schedule111 for the playback at the time of the client request, and the controlpasses to 636.

At 632, the client request may be ignored and playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream is continued at the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, as per the published firstprogramming schedule 111, when the eligibility of the selected futurescheduled programming content is determined to be invalid against thepublished first programming schedule 111 for the playback at the time ofthe client request. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to ignore theclient request and the playback of the first disparate live media outputstream is continued at the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, as per the published first programming schedule 111, whenthe eligibility of the selected future scheduled programming content isdetermined to be invalid against the published first programmingschedule 111 for the playback at the time of the client request.

At 634, the manifest data and indexed metadata of the programmingcontent associated with the program identifier may be inserted to thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with thesecond functionality, when the future scheduled programming content iseligible for the playback at the time of the client request. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in theDACIS 103 may be configured to insert the manifest data and indexedmetadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier to the first disparate live media output stream manifest inaccordance with the second functionality, when the future scheduledprogramming content is eligible for the playback at the time of theclient request.

At 634A, the first disparate live media output stream may be alteredbased on the insertion of the manifest data and indexed metadataassociated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to alter thefirst disparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of themanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111. Such analtered first disparate live media output stream may comprise themanifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playback position.

In accordance with various embodiments, the first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the first client device, such as the client device 132a, may be altered based on the insertion of the manifest data andindexed metadata in accordance with one of pre-defined conversion modes.The pre-defined conversion modes may correspond to pre-encoded mediaassets to live stream mode, pre-encoded media assets to live stream modewith scalable architecture, a live stream to live stream mode, and amixed mode corresponding to switching between pre-encoded media assetsand live streams.

At 634B, the selected future scheduled programming content associatedwith the program identifier in the manifest data, the indexed metadataand the updated playback position, corresponding to a starting point ofthe selected future scheduled programming, of the altered firstdisparate live media output stream may be played out. In accordance withan embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to play out the selected future scheduled programming contentassociated with the program identifier in the manifest data, the indexedmetadata and the updated playback position, corresponding to a startingpoint of the selected future scheduled programming, of the altered firstdisparate live media output stream. Thus, the stream publishing engine114 may alter the first disparate live media output stream to startplaying out the programming content, as specified by the programidentifier from the starting point.

Referring back to step 610, in accordance with another embodiment, whenthe one or more functionalities include the third functionality totime-shift within the programming content in the first disparate livemedia output stream, control passes to step 640 in the flowchart 600D.In such an embodiment, the first disparate live media output streammanifest associated with the first disparate live media output streampresented at the client interface of the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, comprises timing metadata. The timing metadatamay comprise embedded time-based identifiers corresponding to mediasegments in the first disparate live media output stream. An example ofsuch time-based identifier may be the one that is defined in HLS byEXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME tag. However, this example should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the spirit of the presentdisclosure, and other time-based identifiers may also be incorporated inaccordance with incorporation of corresponding streaming protocols.

The program identifier of the programming content may be determinedbased on a request for a list of programming content, via for example anelectronic program guide, associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream from the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. The list of programming content may compriseadditional metadata that may control the third functionality whichcorresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights in the published first programming schedule 111.

In accordance with an embodiment, the client interface may be presentedat the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, inaccordance with the third functionality. Accordingly, in accordance withan embodiment, a seeking option within the programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream may be enabled at the clientinterface of at least the first client device, such as the client device132 a. The seeking option may be enabled in accordance with a defaultplayback buffer of at least the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, when the programming content that is currently played backdoes not allow for the third functionality. In other words, if thecurrently playing programming content does not allow for the thirdfunctionality, the client interface may enable seeking within theprogramming according to the default playback buffer. In accordance withanother embodiment, a seeking option within each programming content inthe first disparate live media output stream may be enabled at theclient interface of at least the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, when the programming content that is currently played backallows for the third functionality. In accordance with an embodiment,the seeking option, such as a seeking operation forwards in time, isenabled within each programming content. The seeking operation forwardsin time may be enabled up to a latest published media segment within thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest. In other words, ifthe currently playing programming content allows for the thirdfunctionality, seeking may be allowed throughout the entirety of theprogramming content that has been published up to the current live edgeby referencing indexed segments that preceded the current playbackbuffer. In accordance with another embodiment, the seeking option, suchas a seeking operation backwards in time, is enabled within eachprogramming content. The seeking operation backwards in time continuesinto a prior programming content when the seeking operation backwards intime reaches a starting point of the programming content that iscurrently played back and the third functionality of the priorprogramming content is enabled. In other words, if the seeking operationbackwards in time reaches the beginning of a specific programmingcontent, and the prior programming content before the specificprogramming content also has time-shifting capability enabled, theseeking operation may continue into the prior programming content. Thus,the seeking operation may continue until a programming content has beenreached that does not allow time-shifting or no more programming contentis available to seek back to.

As the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, plays thefirst disparate live media output stream returned from the DACIS 103,the user input may be provided to select one of the above seekingoptions, such as the seeking operation forwards in time or the seekingoperation backwards in time, in accordance with the third functionalitydefined in the published first programming schedule 111.

Based on the user input, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS103 may be configured to receive the client request from the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, to time-shift within theprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream, inaccordance with the third functionality. The client request thusreceived, includes the program identifier for the programming content(within which the time-shift is to be performed) and a seeking positionto which playback is to be time-shifted to.

In accordance with an embodiment, the seeking position may comprise thetime-based identifier which may correspond to the embedded time-basedidentifier, for example, as defined in HLS by theEXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME tag, within the first disparate live mediaoutput stream. In accordance with another embodiment, the seekingposition may be calculated based on the embedded time-based identifierassociated with a current position of a playhead and a desired durationto seek backwards or forwards in time. For example, the current positionof the play head is 07:30 and the desired duration to seek backwards intime is 00.30. Accordingly, the seeking position may be calculated to be07:00. In another example, the current position of the play head is07:30 and the desired duration to seek forwards in time is 00.45.Accordingly the seeking position may be calculated to be 07:45. In anembodiment, the seeking position may be calculated at the server-side,i.e. the DACIS 103. In another embodiment, the seeking position may becalculated at the client-side, i.e. the first client device.

At 640, the indexing and storage system 116 may be queried with thereceived program identifier and the seeking position to which playbackis to be time-shifted to. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to query theindexing and storage system 116 with the received program identifier andthe seeking position to which playback is to be time-shifted to. Thestream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may query the indexing andstorage system 116 for an appropriate manifest data and indexed metadataof the programming content associated with the program identifier inproximity to the seeking position.

At 642, manifest data and indexed metadata corresponding to theprogramming content, corresponding to the first programming schedule111, in proximity to the seeking position for the seeking operation maybe determined. In accordance with an embodiment, the indexing andstorage system 116 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to determine themanifest data and indexed metadata corresponding to the programmingcontent, corresponding to the first programming schedule 111, inproximity to the seeking position for the seeking operation.

At 644, the determined manifest data and indexed metadata of theprogramming content associated with the program identifier may beinserted to the first disparate live media output stream manifest inaccordance with the third functionality. In accordance with anembodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to insert the determined manifest data and indexed metadataof the programming content associated with the program identifier to thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with thethird functionality.

At 644A, the first disparate live media output stream may be alteredbased on the insertion of the determined manifest data and indexedmetadata associated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the streampublishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to alter thefirst disparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of thedetermined manifest data and indexed metadata associated with theprogram identifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111.Such an altered first disparate live media output stream may comprisethe manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updated playbackposition.

In accordance with various embodiments, the first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the first client device, such as the client device 132a, may be altered based on the insertion of the manifest data andindexed metadata in accordance with one of pre-defined conversion modes.The pre-defined conversion modes may correspond to pre-encoded mediaassets to live stream mode, pre-encoded media assets to live stream modewith scalable architecture, a live stream to live stream mode, and amixed mode corresponding to switching between pre-encoded media assetsand live streams.

At 644B, the programming content associated with the program identifierin the manifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playbackposition, of the altered first disparate live media output stream may beplayed out after time-shifting the playback to the seeking position. Inaccordance with an embodiment, after time-shifting the playback to theseeking position, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 maybe configured to play out the programming content associated with theprogram identifier in the manifest data, the indexed metadata and theupdated playback position, of the altered first disparate live mediaoutput stream. The altered first disparate live media output stream maybe viewed at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.

Referring back to step 610, in accordance with another embodiment, whenthe one or more functionalities include the fourth functionality toresume playback within the programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream, control passes to step 650 in the flowchart600E. In such an embodiment, the first disparate live media outputstream manifest associated with the first disparate live media outputstream comprises timing metadata. The timing metadata may compriseembedded time-based identifiers corresponding to media segments in thefirst disparate live media output stream. An example of such time-basedidentifier may be the one that is defined in HLS byEXT-X-PROGRAM-DATE-TIME tag. However, this example should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the spirit of the presentdisclosure, and other time-based identifiers may also be incorporated inaccordance with incorporation of corresponding streaming protocols.

In accordance with an embodiment, the client interface may be presentedat the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, inaccordance with the fourth functionality which corresponds to eachprogramming content as enabled via the one or more constraints andrights. The first client device, such as the client device 132 a, mayproceed to playback the first disparate live media output stream. As theplayback occurs, the first client device, such as the client device 132a, remains updated about the current playback time as provided by theembedded time-based identifiers in the timing metadata corresponding tomedia segments in the first disparate live media output stream.

As the first disparate live media output stream is played back at thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, a user input maybe provided, which may correspond to a pause operation or a terminationoperation of the playback of the first disparate live media outputstream at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.

Based on the pause operation or a termination operation, a streamidentifier of the first disparate live media output stream, the programidentifier of the programming content that is currently playing back,and the timing metadata within the first disparate live media outputstream may be captured by at least the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a. In accordance with various embodiments, the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a may be configured tostore the captured stream identifier, the program identifier, and thetiming metadata in one or more of at least the first client device, suchas the client device 132 a, associated with a user identifier, a serverassociated with the user identifier, or the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144. The stream identifier, theprogram identifier, and the timing metadata, thus stored, may correspondto a bookmark identifier that may define a state of the first disparatelive media output stream. In accordance with an embodiment, the useridentifier may correspond to a user associated with at least the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a.

At 650, a client request may be received from the first client device,such as the client device 132 a, or the second client device, such asthe client device 132 b, to resume playback of the first disparate livemedia output stream on at least one of the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, or the second client device, such as the clientdevice 132 b. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to receive the clientrequest from the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,or the second client device, such as the client device 132 b, to resumeplayback of the first disparate live media output stream on at least oneof the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, or thesecond client device, such as the client device 132 b. The receivedclient request may correspond to a user selection to resume playback ofthe first disparate live media output stream on at least one of thefirst client device, such as the client device 132 a, or a second clientdevice, such as the client device 132 b. In such an embodiment, the useridentifier of the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,may be further associated with the second client device, such as theclient device 132 b. In such embodiment, the client request may comprisethe stream identifier of the first disparate live media output stream,the program identifier of the programming content that is currentlyplaying back, and the timing metadata within the first disparate livemedia output stream.

At 652, it may be checked if programming content that is currentlyplayed back allows for fourth functionality. In accordance with anembodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to check if the programming content that is currently playedback allows for fourth functionality. In an embodiment, when theprogramming content that is currently played back does not allow for thefourth functionality, control passes to 654. In another embodiment, whenthe programming content that is currently played back allows for thefourth functionality, control passes to 656.

At 654, playout of the programming content may be proceeded from livepoint. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to proceed with the playout ofthe programming content from live point.

At 656, the first programming schedule 111 may be determined from a setof programming schedules associated with the stream identifier based onthe timing metadata in the client request. In accordance with anembodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to determine the first programming schedule 111 from the setof programming schedules associated with the stream identifier from theindexing and storage system 116 based on the timing metadata in theclient request. In other words, the stream publishing engine 114 maylook up prior programming schedules that are associated with the streamidentifier and scheduled during the timing metadata from the indexingand storage system 116.

At 658, an altered schedule may be checked. In accordance with anembodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to check for an altered schedule. In an embodiment, for analtered schedule, control passes to 660. In another embodiment, for thesame schedule, that is the first programming schedule 111, controlpasses to 668.

At 660, an alternate representation of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream may be determined based on the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144 or third-party systems. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in theDACIS 103 may be configured to determine an alternate representation ofthe first disparate live media output stream based on the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144 or third-partysystems. In accordance with an embodiment, the determined alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream may beoptimized for another client device, i.e. at least the second clientdevice, such as the client device 132 b, when the client request isgenerated at the first client device, such as the client device 132 a.For example, in case the first disparate live media output stream ispaused at the client device 132 a, such as a tablet, and the playback isrequested to be resumed on the client device 132 b, such as a mobileclient, the stream publishing engine 114 may elect to generate analtered schedule to reconstruct the first disparate live media outputstream optimized for mobile playback. In accordance with anotherembodiment, the determined alternate representation of the firstdisparate live media output stream may comprise non-programming contenttargeted for one or more users associated with one or both of the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, and the second clientdevice, such as the client device 132 b. For example, in case the firstdisparate live media output stream is paused at the client device 132 a,such as a mobile client, and the playback is requested to be resumed onthe client device 132 b, such as a television screen, known to be usedby multiple users, the stream publishing engine 114 may elect togenerate an altered schedule to reconstruct the first disparate livemedia output stream for the client device 132 b known to be used bymultiple users. Accordingly, additional advertising or promotionalcontent may be included and targeted for the multiple users associatedwith the client device 132 b.

At 662, the first disparate live media output stream may bereconstructed and a second disparate live media output stream may begenerated based on an insertion of manifest data and indexed metadata ofthe programming content associated with the program identifierreferenced in altered schedule, in addition to stream identifier andtiming metadata. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to reconstruct the firstdisparate live media output stream and generate a second disparate livemedia output stream based on the insertion of the manifest data andindexed metadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier referenced in altered schedule, in addition to streamidentifier and timing metadata.

At 664, programming content associated with the program identifier inthe manifest data, indexed metadata and updated playback position, ofthe second disparate live media output stream may be played out. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in theDACIS 103 may be configured to play out the programming contentassociated with the program identifier in the manifest data, indexedmetadata and updated playback position, of the second disparate livemedia output stream. The generated second disparate live media outputstream may be viewed at one or both of the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, and the second client device, such as theclient device 132 b, in response to the generated client request.

At 666, for an unaltered schedule, the manifest data and the indexedmetadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier may be inserted to the first disparate live media outputstream manifest in accordance with the fourth functionality. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 in theDACIS 103 may be configured to insert the manifest data and the indexedmetadata of the programming content associated with the programidentifier to the first disparate live media output stream manifest inaccordance with the fourth functionality.

At 668, a second disparate live media output stream may be generated,based on the insertion of the manifest data and indexed metadataassociated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule 111, in addition to the stream identifier and thetiming metadata. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to generate the seconddisparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of themanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111, in additionto the stream identifier and the timing metadata. Such a generatedsecond disparate live media output stream may comprise the manifestdata, the indexed metadata, and the updated playback position forresuming at one or both of the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, and the second client device, such as client device 132 b,as requested. For example, the timing metadata of the user input (aterminate operation) at the client device 132 a is 07:00:01 and thetiming metadata of the client request at the client device 132 b is07:30:03. In such an embodiment, the manifest data and indexed metadataassociated with the program identifier may also include the programmingcontent of a duration of 00:30:02 hours that was lapsed after the userinput was provided at the client device 132 a to terminate the firstdisparate live media output stream. The updated playback position may beset accordingly in the generated second disparate live media outputstream manifest.

In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishing engine 114 inthe DACIS 103 may be configured to generate an altered first disparatelive media output stream, based on the insertion of the determinedmanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111, in additionto the stream identifier and the timing metadata. Such altered firstdisparate live media output stream may comprise the manifest data, theindexed metadata, and the updated playback position for resuming at oneor both of the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, andthe second client device, such as client device 132 b, as requested. Forexample, the timing metadata of the user input (a pause operation) atthe client device 132 a indicates 07:00:01 and the timing metadata ofthe client request at the client device 132 b indicates 07:00:03. Insuch an embodiment, the updated playback position may be set accordinglyin the altered first disparate live media output stream manifest.

In accordance with various embodiments, the second disparate live mediaoutput stream for the first client device, such as the client device 132a, or the second client device, such as the client device 132 b, may begenerated based on one of the pre-defined conversion modes. Thepre-defined conversion modes may correspond to pre-encoded media assetsto live stream mode, pre-encoded media assets to live stream mode withscalable architecture, a live stream to live stream mode, and a mixedmode corresponding to switching between pre-encoded media assets andlive streams.

At 670, the programming content associated with the program identifierin the manifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playbackposition, of the generated second disparate live media output stream maybe played out. In accordance with an embodiment, the stream publishingengine 114 in the DACIS 103 may be configured to play out theprogramming content associated with the program identifier in themanifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playback position,of the second disparate live media output stream. The second disparatelive media output stream may be viewed at one or both of the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, and the second clientdevice, such as the client device 132 b, in response to the generatedclient request.

Various embodiments of the disclosure comprise the media packaging anddistribution system 102 that may be configured to publish disparate livemedia output streams to be viewed on a plurality of consumer devices(such as the consumer devices 110 a, . . . , 110 n) based on userselection. The media packaging and distribution system 102 may comprise,for example, the DACIS 103, the CDS 105, the CPDS 107, the streampublishing engine 114, PEM 115, indexing and storage system 116, thestream selection service 142, and the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144. In accordance with an embodiment, oneor more processors in the DACIS 103 may be configured to receive a firstmanifest request, comprising one or more parameters, from a first clientdevice, such as client device 132 a. The one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to determine a first additionalcontent comprising a customized first programming content and a targetedfirst non-programming content for the first client device based on theone or more parameters and associated indexed metadata retrieved basedon the one or more parameters. The one or more processors in the DACIS103 may be further configured to generate the first programming schedule111, for the first client device based on selected one or more liveinput stream and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets, theassociated indexed metadata, and the determined first additionalcontent. The one or more processors in the DACIS 103 may be furtherconfigured to select one or more live input stream manifests and/or oneor more pre-encoded media asset manifests published in the contentdelivery system 130 and associated indexed metadata based on the one ormore parameters. The one or more processors in the DACIS 103 may befurther configured to publish a first disparate live media output streammanifest for the first client device based on insertion of the selectedone or more live input stream manifests and/or the one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests, the associated indexed metadata, andthe determined first additional content in accordance with the firstprogramming schedule 111, generated for the first client device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to index a plurality of mediasegments indicated by the one or more pre-encoded media asset manifestsand the one or more live input stream manifests, the associated indexedmetadata, the targeted first non-programming content, and the customizedfirst programming content based on the first programming schedule 111generated for the first client. In accordance with an embodiment, theone or more processors in the DACIS 103 may be further configured toinsert the first additional content at one or more content placementopportunities indicated in the first disparate live media output streammanifest based on the first programming schedule 111 generated for thefirst client device. The one or more content placement opportunities maybe defined by the metadata associated with the one or more live inputstreams corresponding to the one or more live input stream manifestsand/or one or more pre-encoded media assets corresponding to the one ormore pre-encoded media asset manifests. The insertion of the targetedfirst non-programming content and the customized first programmingcontent in real time, the associated indexed metadata and/or the one ormore content placement opportunities may include programming contentindicators, non-programming content indicators, graphical treatmentindicators, and interactive content indicators.

In accordance with an embodiment, the insertion of the customized firstprogramming content, in an instance in which the generated firstdisparate live media output stream manifest corresponds to a disparatelive media output stream, a first set of processors in the DACIS 103 maybe further configured to receive universal resource locators and/oridentifiers referencing records for the selected one or more live inputstreams and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets from the CPDS107. The associated indexed metadata and/or one or more contentplacement opportunities may include programming content indicators,non-programming content indicators, graphical treatment indicators, andinteractive content indicators. The programming content indicators maycomprise a plurality of categories for the customized first programmingcontent.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first set of processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to transmit a request to the CDS 105for determining the customized first programming content from a contentpackage and distribution system for matching one or more personalizationparameters. The one or more personalization parameters may include userpreferences and identifiers from the first manifest request or retrievedfrom the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database144, and time constraints. The time constraints may be determined basedon user preferences retrieved from the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database 144, a range defined in the first manifestrequest, and schedule tolerances defined in the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144, client device preferences oridentifiers from the first manifest request or retrieved from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144,geolocation information from the first manifest request or retrievedfrom the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database144, and/or a content recommendation engine.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more parameters maycomprise universal resource locators and/or identifiers referencingrecords for one or more live input streams or one or more pre-encodedmedia assets in the CPDS 107, a plurality of client-specific parameters,and a plurality of client-specified attributes derived from a userinteraction with the first client device. The plurality ofclient-specific parameters may comprise user preferences andidentifiers, client device preferences and identifiers, and one or morerules governed by geolocation data and current position of playback of afirst disparate live media output stream at the first client device. Inaccordance with an embodiment, for the insertion of the targeted firstnon-programming content, the plurality of client-specified attributesmay comprise the user interaction with interactive content in thecustomized first programming content and the targeted firstnon-programming content, and a preference for a type and/or category ofthe targeted first non-programming content and/or the customized firstprogramming content. The user interaction with the interactive contentcomprises a selection to exclude the targeted first non-programmingcontent and/or the customized first programming content, a selection toinclude a subset of the targeted first non-programming content and/orthe customized first programming content, and a selection to include allof the targeted first non-programming content and/or the customizedfirst programming content within one or more specified non-programmingcontent locations. The targeted first non-programming content maycomprise personalized advertisements including video advertisements,graphical treatment, cue points, and the interactive content comprisinga set of interactive elements for the targeted first non-programmingcontent. The customized first programming content may comprisepersonalized non-advertising content including promotional content, ashort-form content, and an alternate additional content for replacementof at least a portion of a first disparate live media output streamgenerated for the first client.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to transmit the published firstdisparate live media output stream manifest to a media player of thefirst client device for a playback of a first disparate live mediaoutput stream. The media player, during playback of the first disparatelive media output stream at the first client device, may present one ormore decision points defined by the interactive content to initiate auser interaction at the first client device. At the one or more decisionpoints, the user interaction may correspond to one of a desiredselection corresponding to the user interaction with one or moreinteractive elements, or a default selection corresponding tonon-interaction of a user with the customized first programming contentand/or the targeted first non-programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream played back by the media player. The desiredselection or the default selection may be transmitted to an externalstorage system that is the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144. At the one or more decision points, the one ormore interactive elements may be configured to exclude the targetedfirst non-programming content or the customized first programmingcontent and be replaced by default content, select alternate customizedfirst programming content, select a subsequent second programmingcontent, approve or disapprove selected customized first programmingcontent, exclude subsequent second non-programming content for aremaining portion of the first disparate live media output stream playedback by the media player, select one or more targeted firstnon-programming content of a specific category, or view some or all ofthe targeted first non-programming content immediately to avoid some orall of the targeted first non-programming content for the remainingportion of the first disparate live media output stream played back bythe media player.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to modify a remaining portion of thefirst programming schedule 111 that generates first disparate live mediaoutput stream corresponding to the first manifest request generated bythe first client device based on the user interaction with theinteractive content. A first set of processors in the DACIS 103 may beconfigured to receive the first manifest request from a second set ofprocessors in the DACIS 103, select, based on the received firstmanifest request, one or more live input streams and/or one or morepre-encoded media assets based on the one or more parameters andadditional parameters retrieved from the repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database 144, and transmit universalresource locators and/or identifiers referencing records for theselected one or more live input streams and/or the one or morepre-encoded media assets to the second set of processors in the DACIS103.

In accordance with an embodiment, the second set of processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to retrieve the indexed metadataassociated with the selected one or more live input streams and/or theone or more pre-encoded media assets from the CPDS 107. The associatedindexed metadata may define one or more content placement opportunitieswithin the selected one or more live input streams and/or the one ormore pre-encoded media assets. The customized first programming contentand the targeted first non-programming content may be identified as thefirst additional content to be scheduled at the one or more contentplacement opportunities based on the one or more parameters in thereceived first manifest request and the associated indexed metadata,wherein the generated first programming schedule 111 excludes the firstadditional content or includes the first additional content completelyor partially.

In accordance with an embodiment, a third set of processors in the DACIS103 may be further configured to insert, based on the generated firstprogramming schedule 111, the identified customized first programmingcontent and the targeted first non-programming content into the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest in accordance with the oneor more content placement opportunities defined in the associatedindexed metadata and one or more rules and conditions defined in therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144. Theidentification of the targeted first non-programming content may bebased on execution of a non-programming content service based on rulesand conditions defined in additional parameters of the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144, and the one ormore parameters defined in the first manifest request. Theidentification of the customized first programming content may be basedon execution of the CDS 105 based on the rules and conditions defined inthe additional parameters of the repository of schedules, rights, anduser preferences database 144. In accordance with an embodiment, thefirst programming schedule 111 may define locations and types of one ormore decision points defined by one or more content placementopportunities in the indexed metadata. In an instance when one or morepre-encoded media assets are being scheduled and the one or moredecision points defined by the one or more content placementopportunities are to be inserted in the first programming schedule 111,the first programming schedule 111 may be configured to control the oneor more pre-encoded media asset manifests to be published as the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest.

In accordance with an embodiment, a conversion of one or morepre-encoded media assets into a first disparate live media output streamfacilitates one or more subsequent modifications on the first disparatelive media output stream. The one or more subsequent modifications maycorrespond to a user selection, a user preference, a change in the firstprogramming schedule 111, or a time or geolocation-based rule.

In accordance with an embodiment, the first set of processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to transmit universal resourcelocators and/or identifiers referencing records for the selected one ormore live input streams and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assetsto the second set of processors. In an absence of one or more live inputstreams, the first set of processors may be configured to select apre-encoded asset indicated in the first manifest request to continueplayback as the first disparate live media output stream. The second setof processors may be configured to select a second disparate live mediaoutput stream according to accessibility of the first disparate livemedia output stream. The first disparate live media output stream is notupdated and/or the first disparate live media output stream has mediaand/or a manifest that is incompatible with a client request. The secondset of processors may be further configured to select the seconddisparate live media output stream according to rules provided by astream owner/operator and user preferences defined in the repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to transition from the firstadditional content to an alternate additional content based on one ormore transition parameters. The one or more transition parameters maycomprise one or more parameters from the first manifest request, currentstate of the first disparate live media output stream manifestdetermined based on accessibility, regular update, and suitableencoding, digital rights management, and compatibility with the firstclient device, rules provided by a stream owner operator, and userpreferences defined in the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to retrieve alternate metadata forthe alternate additional content from the CPDS 107. The alternatemetadata may indicate a location to transition from the first additionalcontent to the alternate additional content. The one or more processorsmay be further configured to determine placement of the alternateadditional content within the first disparate live media output streammanifest based on the associated indexed metadata and the alternatemetadata. The one or more processors may be further configured togenerate the alternate programming schedule 113, for the first clientdevice based on the alternate additional content and the alternatemetadata, and transmit the generated alternate programming schedule tothe first set of processors. The first set of processors may beconfigured to generate a final disparate live output stream manifest forthe first client device. In accordance with an embodiment, anotherconversion of the first disparate live media output stream into the oneor more pre-encoded media assets facilitates download of the one or morepre-encoded media assets at the first client device and mitigatesdependency on the system for playback of remaining portion. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in the DACIS103 may be further configured to receive a request from the first clientdevice, wherein the request comprises the one or more parameters. Theone or more processors in the DACIS 103 may be further configured todetermine alternate additional content for inclusion in the firstdisparate live media output stream manifest or replacement of the firstadditional content in the first disparate live media output streammanifest based on the one or more parameters. The one or more processorsin the DACIS 103 may be further configured to modify the firstprogramming schedule 111 to generate an alternate programming schedulefor the first client device based on the alternate additional contentand associated metadata. The one or more processors in the DACIS 103 maybe further configured to transmit the generated alternate programmingschedule to a second set of processors, wherein the second set ofprocessors is configured to generate a final disparate live outputstream manifest for the first client device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103 may be further configured to revoke the first disparate livemedia output stream manifest published for the first client device basedon an identifier primitive associated with the first disparate livemedia output stream of the first client device in an instance in which amedia player of the first client device is determined to be aplagiarized media player. The first disparate live media output streammay include at least one unique identifier inserted by the one or moreprocessors n the DACIS 103.

In accordance with various embodiments, the first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest for the first client device may be generatedbased on one of a pre-defined conversion modes. The pre-definedconversion modes may correspond to pre-encoded media assets to livestream mode, pre-encoded media assets to live stream mode with scalablearchitecture, a live stream to live stream mode, and a mixed modecorresponding to switching between pre-encoded media assets and livestreams.

In accordance with an embodiment, one or more processors in the PEM 115may be configured to receive a first manifest request, comprising one ormore parameters, from the first client device. Further, the receivedfirst manifest request may be transmitted to a first set of processorsin the stream selection service 142. The first set of processors may beconfigured to select, based on the received first manifest request, oneor more live input streams and/or one or more pre-encoded media assetsbased on the one or more parameters and additional parameters retrievedfrom the repository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database144. The one or more processors in the PEM 115 may be configured toreceive universal resource locators and/or identifiers referencingrecords for the selected one or more live input streams and/or the oneor more pre-encoded media assets from the first set of processors. Theone or more processors in the PEM 115 may be configured to retrieveindexed metadata associated with the selected one or more live inputstreams and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets from a contentpackaging and distribution system, wherein the indexed metadata definesone or more content placement opportunities within the selected one ormore live input streams and/or the one or more pre-encoded media assets.The one or more processors in the PEM 115 may be further configured toidentify a customized first programming content and a targeted firstnon-programming content as a first additional content to be scheduled inthe one or more content placement opportunities based on the one or moreparameters in the received first manifest and the associated indexedmetadata. The one or more processors in the PEM 115 may be furtherconfigured to generate the first programming schedule 111 for the firstclient device based on the associated indexed metadata, the firstadditional content and the one or more live input streams and/or one ormore pre-encoded media assets.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, one or moreprocessors in the DACIS 103, such as the PEM 115, may be configured topublish the first programming schedule 111 that comprises one or morefunctionalities enabled via one or more constraints and rightsassociated with at least a first disparate live media output stream. Thepublished first programming schedule 111 may reference one or morepre-encoded media assets and/or one or more live input streams. The oneor more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the indexing and storagesystem 116, may be configured to generate an indexed first disparatelive media output stream for the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, based on the published first programming schedule 111. Theone or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the stream publishingengine 114, may be configured to receive a client request from the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, based on a playback ofthe indexed first disparate live media output stream at the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, wherein the client requestcomprises at least a program identifier referenced in the publishedfirst programming schedule 111 with respect to a playback position inthe published first programming schedule 111. The one or more processorsin the DACIS 103, such as the stream publishing engine 114, may beconfigured to insert manifest data and indexed metadata of a programmingcontent associated with the program identifier to a first disparate livemedia output stream manifest in accordance with the one or morefunctionalities. The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such asthe stream publishing engine 114, may be configured to at least one ofalter the first disparate live media output stream or generate a seconddisparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of themanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule 111, wherein thealtered first disparate live media output stream or the generated seconddisparate live media output stream comprises the manifest data, theindexed metadata and an updated playback position. The manifest data maycorrespond to one or both of an encoded live input stream and apre-encoded media asset associated with the program identifier. Themanifest data may define at least an associated media content, one ormore programming indicators, timing metadata, one or more media contentidentifiers, and one or more contextual event identifiers. The timingmetadata corresponds to the playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule 111.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the indexing andstorage system 116, may be configured to process the manifest data tocreate the indexed metadata, wherein the indexed metadata may define oneor more program indicators and calculated durations, a programidentification, non-programming content and calculated durations, anon-programming content identification, and one or more event markers.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the indexing andstorage system 116, may be configured to index the one or morepre-encoded media assets and/or the one or more live input streamsreferenced in the published first programming schedule 111. In anembodiment, the one or more live input streams may be indexed repeatedlyat variable time intervals. The indexed first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the first client device, such as the client device 132a, may be generated based on the indexed one or more pre-encoded mediaassets and/or the one or more live input streams.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the indexing andstorage system 116, may be configured to maintain the manifest data andthe indexed metadata to encompass a time-range specified in thepublished first programming schedule 111.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights include a firstfunctionality to restart the programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream that is presented on at least the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a. In such an embodiment, theprogram identifier may be determined by at least the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, based on a request for a listof programming content associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream from a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database. The list of programming content may compriseadditional metadata that controls the first functionality of a currentprogramming content and each of past programming content as enabled viathe one or more constraints and rights in the published firstprogramming schedule 111. In accordance with an embodiment, the programidentifier may be specified within the first disparate live media outputstream manifest that corresponds to the first disparate live mediaoutput stream for the programming content that is currently or recentlyplayed back. One or more media segments of the programming content arewithin a playout buffer of the first disparate live media output streammanifest. The client request may be generated by the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, based on a user input providedto restart the programming content that is currently or recently playedback in the first disparate live media output stream in accordance withthe first functionality defined in the published first programmingschedule 111. The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as thestream publishing engine 114, may be configured to validate against thepublished first programming schedule 111 that the programming content iseligible for a restart. In accordance with an embodiment, the one ormore processors in the DACIS 103, such as the stream publishing engine114, may be configured to ignore the client request when the programmingcontent is ineligible for the restart. Further, the playback of thefirst disparate live media output stream may be continued at the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, as per the publishedfirst programming schedule 111.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more processors in theDACIS 103, such as the stream publishing engine 114, may be configuredto alter the manifest data of the first disparate live media outputstream manifest with the programming content associated with the programidentifier from a starting point of the programming content when theprogramming content is eligible for the restart.

In accordance with an embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights include a secondfunctionality to skip to a future scheduled programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream. The second functionality maybe allowed for a first set of pre-encoded media content or a live inputstream that comprises a second set of pre-encoded media content.

A list of programming content associated with the first disparate livemedia output stream from a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database may be requested by the first client device, suchas the client device 132 a. The list of programming content may compriseadditional metadata that controls the second functionality of the futurescheduled programming content as enabled via the one or more constraintsand rights in the published first programming schedule 111. In such anembodiment, the client request may be generated by the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, based on a user input that maycorrespond to a selection of the future scheduled programming contentfrom the list of programming content. The program identifier referencedin the published first programming schedule 111 may correspond to theselected future scheduled programming content that is scheduled to beplayed out during a future timestamp after a live point in a playbackbuffer of the first disparate live media output stream. Further, the oneor more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the stream publishingengine 114, may be configured to validate against the published firstprogramming schedule 111 that the selected future scheduled programmingcontent is eligible for playback at a time of the client request. Inaccordance with an embodiment, the one or more processors in the DACIS103, such as the stream publishing engine 114, may be configured toignore the client request when the selected future scheduled programmingcontent is ineligible for playback at the time of the client request.Further, the playback of the first disparate live media output streammay be continued at the first client device, such as the client device132 a, as per the published first programming schedule 111. The alteredfirst disparate live media output stream may comprise the manifest data,the indexed metadata and the updated playback position when the selectedfuture scheduled programming content is eligible for the playback at thetime of the client request.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the streampublishing engine 114, may be configured to play out the selected futurescheduled programming content associated with the program identifier inthe manifest data, the indexed metadata and the updated playbackposition, corresponding to a starting point of the selected futurescheduled programming, of the altered first disparate live media outputstream.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights include a thirdfunctionality to time-shift within the programming content in the firstdisparate live media output stream. The first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream presented at the first client device, such as the clientdevice 132 a, may comprise timing metadata. The timing metadata maycomprise embedded time-based identifiers corresponding to media segmentsin the first disparate live media output stream. Further, a list ofprogramming content associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream from a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database is requested by the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a. The list of programming content may compriseadditional metadata that controls the third functionality whichcorresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights in the published first programming schedule 111.A client interface may be presented at the first client device, such asthe client device 132 a, in accordance with the third functionalitywhich corresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one ormore constraints and rights. A seeking option within the programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream may be enabledat the client interface of at least the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a, in accordance with a default playback buffer of atleast the first client device, such as the client device 132 a, when theprogramming content that is currently played back does not allow for thethird functionality. In another embodiment, the seeking option withineach programming content in the first disparate live media output streammay be enabled at the client interface of at least the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, when the programming contentthat is currently played back allows for the third functionality. Suchseeking option is enabled within each programming content and a seekingoperation forwards in time is up to a latest published media segmentwithin the first disparate live media output stream manifest. The clientrequest may further comprise a seeking position to which playback is tobe time-shifted to. A seeking operation continues into a priorprogramming content when the seeking operation backwards in time reachesa starting point of the programming content that is currently playedback and the third functionality of the prior programming content isenabled. In an embodiment, the seeking position may comprise atime-based identifier which corresponds to an embedded time-basedidentifier within the first disparate live media output stream. Inanother embodiment, the seeking position may be calculated based on anembedded time-based identifier associated with a current position of aplayhead and a desired duration to seek backward or forward.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the streampublishing engine 114, may be configured to determine the manifest dataand indexed metadata corresponding to the programming content,corresponding to the first programming schedule 111, in proximity to theseeking position for the seeking operation. The altered first disparatelive media output stream to be viewed by at least the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, may be generated by the one ormore processors, such as the stream publishing engine 114, based on theinsertion of the determined manifest data and indexed metadata.

In accordance with another embodiment, the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights include a fourthfunctionality to resume playback within the programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream. The first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest associated with the first disparate live mediaoutput stream presented on at least the first client device, such as theclient device 132 a, may comprise timing metadata. The timing metadatamay comprise embedded time-based identifiers.

In an embodiment, a playback of the first disparate live media outputstream may be paused or terminated by at least the first client device,such as the client device 132 a. A stream identifier of the firstdisparate live media output stream, the program identifier of theprogramming content that is currently playing back, and timing metadatawithin the first disparate live media output stream may be captured byat least the first client device, such as the client device 132 a. Thecaptured stream identifier, the program identifier, and the timingmetadata may be stored in one or more of at least the first clientdevice, such as the client device 132 a, a server associated with a useridentifier, or a repository of schedules, rights, and user preferencesdatabase. The user identifier may correspond to a user associated withat least the first client device, such as the client device 132 a. Thestored stream identifier, the program identifier, and the timingmetadata may correspond to a bookmark identifier that defines a state ofthe first disparate live media output stream. In such case, the clientrequest may correspond to a user selection to resume playback of thefirst disparate live media output stream on at least one of the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, or a second clientdevice, such as client device 132 b. The user identifier of the firstclient device, such as the client device 132 a, may be furtherassociated with the second client device, such as client device 132 b.Thus, the client request further comprises the stream identifier and thetiming metadata in addition to the program identifier.

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the streampublishing engine 114, may be configured to determine the firstprogramming schedule 111 from a set of programming schedules associatedwith the stream identifier based on the timing metadata in the clientrequest, and reconstruct the first disparate live media output streamfor the altered schedule associated with the stream identifier, theprogram identifier, and the timing metadata. In accordance with anembodiment, the reconstructed first disparate live media output streamcorresponds to the second disparate live media output stream, and thegenerated second disparate live media output stream is viewed at one orboth of the first client device and the second client device

The one or more processors in the DACIS 103, such as the streampublishing engine 114, may be configured to determine an alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database 144 orthird-party systems. In an embodiment, the determined alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream may beoptimized for at least the second client device, such as client device132 b. In accordance with an embodiment, the determined alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream comprisesnon-programming content targeted for one or more users associated withone or both of the first client device, such as the client device 132 a,and the second client device, such as client device 132 b.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a computer-readablemedium, such as the non-transitory computer-readable medium 506, havingstored thereon, computer implemented instruction that when executed bythe processor 504 causes the media packaging and distribution system 102to execute operations for publishing a disparate per-client live mediaoutput stream based on dynamic insertion of targeted non-programmingcontent and customized programming content. In accordance with anembodiment, the processor 504 causes the media packaging anddistribution system 102 to execute operations to receive a firstmanifest request, comprising one or more parameters, from a first clientdevice, such as client device 132 a. The processor 504 causes the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 to execute operations to determinea first additional content comprising a customized first programmingcontent and a targeted first non-programming content for the firstclient device based on the one or more parameters and associated indexedmetadata retrieved based on the one or more parameters. The processor504 causes the media packaging and distribution system 102 to executeoperations to generate the first programming schedule 111, for the firstclient device based on selected one or more live input stream and/or theone or more pre-encoded media assets, the associated indexed metadata,and the determined first additional content. The processor 504 causesthe media packaging and distribution system 102 to execute operations toselect one or more live input stream manifests and/or one or morepre-encoded media asset manifests published in the content deliverysystem 130 and associated indexed metadata based on the one or moreparameters. The processor 504 causes the media packaging anddistribution system 102 to execute operations to publish a firstdisparate live media output stream manifest for the first client devicebased on insertion of the selected one or more live input streammanifests and/or the one or more pre-encoded media asset manifests, theassociated indexed metadata, and the determined first additional contentin accordance with the first programming schedule 111, generated for thefirst client device.

Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a computer-readablemedium, such as the non-transitory computer-readable medium 506, havingstored thereon, computer implemented instruction that when executed bythe processor 504 causes the media packaging and distribution system 102to execute operations for server-side dynamic insertion of programmingcontent in an indexed disparate live media output stream. In accordancewith an embodiment, the processor 504 causes the media packaging anddistribution system 102 to execute operations to publish a firstprogramming schedule that may comprise one or more functionalitiesenabled via one or more constraints and rights associated with at leasta first disparate live media output stream. The published firstprogramming schedule may reference one or more pre-encoded media assetsand/or one or more live input streams. The processor 504 causes themedia packaging and distribution system 102 to execute operations togenerate an indexed first disparate live media output stream for a firstclient device based on the published first programming schedule. Theprocessor 504 causes the media packaging and distribution system 102 toexecute operations to receive a client request from the first clientdevice based on a playback of the indexed first disparate live mediaoutput stream at the first client device. The client request comprisesat least a program identifier referenced in the published firstprogramming schedule with respect to a playback position in thepublished first programming schedule. The processor 504 causes the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 to execute operations to insertmanifest data and indexed metadata of a programming content associatedwith the program identifier to a first disparate live media outputstream manifest in accordance with the one or more functionalities. Theprocessor 504 causes the media packaging and distribution system 102 toexecute operations to at least one of alter the first disparate livemedia output stream or generate a second disparate live media outputstream, based on the insertion of the manifest data and indexed metadataassociated with the program identifier referenced in the firstprogramming schedule. The altered first disparate live media outputstream or the generated second disparate live media output streamcomprises the manifest data, the indexed metadata and an updatedplayback position.

Existing systems for SSAI support live streaming and make decisions toinsert non-programming content in near real-time. However, for On-Demandstreaming, such decisions to insert non-programming content are madeupfront. Further, legacy technology of the existing systems forserver-side content insertion support a finite playback buffer as theencoder typically publishes a rolling window having limited duration.Accordingly, amount of control the user can excerpt to influence whatnon-programming content and programming content is shown may getlimited. Further, newer ad models are developing that rely less oninterruptive video advertising and more on contextual based graphicaltreatment advertising within the program content. To this extent, SSAIsystems have been able to circumvent ad blockers by requesting video adson behalf of the client device and stitching them into the disparatelive media output stream manifest.

To address at least the above problems, in accordance with the variousembodiments of the present disclosure, the DACIS 103 in the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 may be configured to include notshowing non-programming content that the user elected to skip or ratedpoorly in an earlier non-programming content break, or could enable theuser to skip all non-programming content because the user interactedwith an previous non-programming content or made a purchase and theadvertiser elected to sponsor the remainder of the program.

The DACIS 103 may notified about graphical treatment opportunitieswithin the content, make the necessary ad calls on behalf of the clientdevice, and provide the client device with the information needed toexecute the overlays via a secure out-of-band channel between the DACIS103 and the client device. In many cases, a channel already exists tosupport passing the program indicators, such as start and endinformation, to the client device and Video Player Ad-Serving Interface(VPAID) ads that cannot be stitched.

The DACIS 103 may also provide an opportunity to leverage the 1:1 scaleof traditional SSAI systems to support custom content choices and notjust targeted advertising. For example, when a user selects to join alive stream, the CDS 105 coupled with the DACIS 103 may determine that,instead of joining the live stream for the last few minutes of aprogram, the user should instead be shown content more relevant to thenext program. For example, showing a personalized set of basketballhighlights and ads to a user who likely joined the stream to watch thebasketball game that is coming on next.

Further, the DACIS 103 may be used to provide seamless failover betweenredundant streams for large events, thus improving reliability. Whilesome client devices support primary and backup streams and are able tofail between them, many client devices do not. In such cases, the clientdevice may attempt to join the alternative stream after occurrence of anevent, such as a device failure or crash. For such clients, the DACIS103 monitors both the primary and backup stream, and if there is afailure, inserts the alternative stream into the output manifest. Thus,the media packaging and distribution system 102 provides an enhanced,intelligent, and personalized viewer experience with increased appeal inorder to retain and gain a wider audience.

Furthermore, the DACIS 103 may allow the simulation of an infinite livewindow (or an infinite playback buffer). Accordingly, the user may seekto a desired point scheduled backwards or forwards with respect to alive point in a playback buffer of the first disparate live media outputstream, limited by business rules. To simulate “rewinding” beyond whatis currently defined in the buffer, the first disparate live mediaoutput stream may cease to play out the next sequence of media andinstead elect to have the next appended media segment in the firstdisparate live media output stream be the desired media segment, whichis either previously played out or to be played out, at the desiredtime. Furthermore, there is no need to store the state of the firstdisparate live media output stream play out on a moment-to-moment basis,but rather what entire programming content was played and at whatdate/time. Only parameters necessary to reconstruct the state of thefirst disparate live media output stream from any moment are streamidentifier, which is correlated to one or more schedules of programs,program identifier, and timing metadata of desired playback time.

In certain cases, the system may be enabled to seek the playhead aheador behind a playout window of a disparate live media output stream,which may result in an updated playout buffer. Further, the system mayenable a saved scheduled state that comprises stream identifier, programidentifier, time identifier, and associated programming schedule, basedon which the disparate live media output stream may be reconstructed torepresent the exact or slightly altered disparate live media outputstream from the past.

The DACIS 103, the CDS 105, the CPDS 107, the stream publishing engine114, PEM 115, indexing and storage system 116, the stream selectionservice 142, and the repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database 144 in conjunction with each other, providesignificant productivity and efficiency improvements since the processof generating disparate live media output streams with additionalcontent is specific to each consumer device. The disparate live mediaoutput streams are simplified as the generated disparate live mediaoutput streams are independent of a requirement to re-process, that isre-encode and re-package, various live input streams for mediadistribution to the plurality of consumer devices in real time ornear-real time. Thus, the network provider now may provide live channelofferings in a cost-effective manner.

Various components, as described above in FIG. 1B, enable the mediapackaging and distribution system 102 to leverage the modern streamingprotocols, based on which the media packaging and distribution system102 generates disparate live media output streams of the live broadcastchannels with additional content and one or more decision points toinfluence the remaining disparate live media output streams. Thedisparate live media output streams may be generated based on insertionof live input streams into a generated disparate live media outputstream using pre-encoded media assets. In this regard, manifests fromthe live input streams and the pre-encoded media assets may bemanipulated and produced for distribution of the disparate live mediaoutput stream.

As the media content itself does not need to be processed beyond theinitial creation of the live input streams and pre-encoded media assetsprepared for distribution, it is extremely inexpensive to provide suchdisparate live media output streams and alternate disparate live mediaoutput stream (in case of stream failover). It may be based solely onthe cost to manipulate the manifests, which provide the instructions forthe media players in the client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n to execute.The media packaging and distribution system 102 may also supporttargeted ad insertion and customized programming content insertion on aper client basis and may further leverage the processing power of theindividual client devices 132 a, . . . , 132 n to insert targetedchannel graphics and graphical treatment advertisements and promotions.

The media packaging and distribution system 102 may also support uniquefunctionality where the disparate live media output stream is requiredto effectively be re-stitched/rebuilt in real-time using indexedpre-encoded media assets or live input stream assets according to thetime-shifting request originating from the user. The method describedherein have additional benefits as such methods are optimized for scaleand are extremely efficient. Having no need to store the state of thedisparate live media output stream playout in a moment-to-moment basis,but rather what entire programming content was played and whatdate/time, as well as having each program that was played out indexedindefinitely in the indexing and storage system 116, the only parametersnecessary to reconstruct the state of the disparate live media outputstream from any moment are stream identifier, which is correlated to oneor more published schedules of the programming content, programidentifier, and timing metadata of desired playback time. The timingmetadata plays a key role in the reconstruction, as it determines theprecise schedule and position within the desired programming to beginplayout.

As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer tophysical electronic components (for example, hardware) and any softwareand/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executedby the hardware, and/or otherwise be associated with the hardware. Asused herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprisea first “circuit” when executing first one or more lines of code and maycomprise a second “circuit” when executing second one or more lines ofcode. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items inthe list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means anyelement of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example,“x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y),(z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term“exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, orillustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example”set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, orillustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform afunction whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and/orcode (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless ofwhether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by someuser-configurable setting.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments ofthe disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the”are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that theterms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including”, whenused herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Further, many embodiments are described in terms of sequences of actionsto be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It willbe recognized that various actions described herein can be performed byspecific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits(ASICs)), by program instructions being executed by one or moreprocessors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, these sequencesof actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirelywithin any non-transitory form of computer readable storage mediumhaving stored therein a corresponding set of computer instructions thatupon execution would cause an associated processor to perform thefunctionality described herein. Thus, the various aspects of thedisclosure may be embodied in a number of different forms, which havebeen contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter.In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, thecorresponding form of any such embodiments may be described herein as,for example, “logic configured to” perform the described action.

Another embodiment of the disclosure may provide a non-transitorymachine and/or computer readable storage and/or media, having storedthereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least onecode section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causingthe machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein forpublishing a disparate per-client live media output stream based ondynamic insertion of targeted non-programming content and customizedprogramming content.

The present disclosure may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, eitherstatically or dynamically defined, of a set of instructions intended tocause a system having an information processing capability to perform aparticular function either directly or after either or both of thefollowing: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b)reproduction in a different material form.

Further, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, algorithms, and/or stepsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, firmware, orcombinations thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

The methods, sequences and/or algorithms described in connection withthe embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in firmware,hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in acombination thereof. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flashmemory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk,physical and/or virtual disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, virtualizedsystem or device such as a virtual servers or container, or any otherform of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium iscommunicatively coupled to the processor (including logic/code executingin the processor) such that the processor can read information from, andwrite information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, thestorage medium may be integral to the processor.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference tocertain embodiments, it will be noted understood by, for example, thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications could be madeand equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure as defined, for example, in the appended claims.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure withoutdeparting from its scope. The functions, steps and/or actions of themethod claims in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosuredescribed herein need not be performed in any particular order.Furthermore, although elements of the disclosure may be described orclaimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation tothe singular is explicitly stated. Therefore, it is intended that thepresent disclosure not be limited to the particular embodimentdisclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: one or more processors in amedia packaging and distribution system, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to: publish a first programming schedule thatcomprises one or more functionalities enabled via one or moreconstraints and rights associated with at least a first disparate livemedia output stream, wherein the published first programming schedulereferences one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or one or more liveinput streams; generate an indexed first disparate live media outputstream for a first client device based on the published firstprogramming schedule; receive a client request from the first clientdevice based on a playback of the indexed first disparate live mediaoutput stream at the first client device, wherein the client requestcomprises at least a program identifier referenced in the publishedfirst programming schedule with respect to a playback position in thepublished first programming schedule; insert manifest data and indexedmetadata of a programming content associated with the program identifierto a first disparate live media output stream manifest in accordancewith the one or more functionalities; and at least one of alter thefirst disparate live media output stream or generate a second disparatelive media output stream, based on the insertion of the manifest dataand indexed metadata associated with the program identifier referencedin the first programming schedule, wherein the altered first disparatelive media output stream or the generated second disparate live mediaoutput stream comprises the manifest data, the indexed metadata and anupdated playback position.
 2. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe manifest data corresponds to one or both of an encoded live inputstream and a pre-encoded media asset associated with the programidentifier, wherein the manifest data defines at least an associatedmedia content, one or more programming indicators, timing metadata, oneor more media content identifiers, and one or more contextual eventidentifiers, and wherein the timing metadata corresponds to the playbackposition in the published first programming schedule.
 3. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to process the manifest data to create the indexed metadata,and wherein the indexed metadata defines one or more program indicatorsand calculated durations, a program identification, non-programmingcontent and calculated durations, a non-programming contentidentification, and one or more event markers.
 4. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured toindex the one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or the one or morelive input streams referenced in the published first programmingschedule, wherein the one or more live input streams are indexedrepeatedly at variable time intervals, and wherein the indexed firstdisparate live media output stream for the first client device isgenerated based on the indexed one or more pre-encoded media assetsand/or the one or more live input streams.
 5. The system according toclaim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured tomaintain the manifest data and the indexed metadata to encompass atime-range specified in the published first programming schedule.
 6. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the one or more functionalitiesenabled via the one or more constraints and rights include a firstfunctionality to restart the programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream that is presented on at least the first clientdevice.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the programidentifier is determined by at least the first client device based on arequest for a list of programming content associated with the firstdisparate live media output stream from a repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database, and wherein the list ofprogramming content comprises additional metadata that controls thefirst functionality of a current programming content and each of pastprogramming content as enabled via the one or more constraints andrights in the published first programming schedule.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 7, wherein the program identifier is specified withinthe first disparate live media output stream manifest that correspondsto the first disparate live media output stream for the programmingcontent that is currently or recently played back, and wherein one ormore media segments of the programming content are within a playoutbuffer of the first disparate live media output stream manifest.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 6, wherein the client request is generated bythe first client device based on a user input provided to restart theprogramming content that is currently or recently played back in thefirst disparate live media output stream in accordance with the firstfunctionality defined in the published first programming schedule. 10.The system according to claim 6, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to validate against the published first programmingschedule that the programming content is eligible for a restart.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to ignore the client request when the programmingcontent is ineligible for the restart, and wherein the playback of thefirst disparate live media output stream is continued at the firstclient device as per the published first programming schedule.
 12. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to alter the manifest data of the first disparatelive media output stream manifest with the programming contentassociated with the program identifier from a starting point of theprogramming content when the programming content is eligible for therestart.
 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsinclude a second functionality to skip to a future scheduled programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream, and wherein thesecond functionality is allowed for a first set of pre-encoded mediacontent or a live input stream that comprises a second set ofpre-encoded media content.
 14. The system according to claim 13, whereina list of programming content associated with the first disparate livemedia output stream from a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database is requested by the first client device, andwherein the list of programming content comprises additional metadatathat controls a second functionality of the future scheduled programmingcontent as enabled via the one or more constraints and rights in thepublished first programming schedule.
 15. The system according to claim14, wherein the client request is generated by the first client devicebased on a user input that corresponds to a selection of the futurescheduled programming content from the list of programming content. 16.The system according to claim 15, wherein the program identifierreferenced in the published first programming schedule corresponds tothe selected future scheduled programming content that is scheduled tobe played out during a future timestamp after a live point in a playbackbuffer of the first disparate live media output stream.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to validate against the published first programming schedulethat the selected future scheduled programming content is eligible forplayback at a time of the client request.
 18. The system according toclaim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured toignore the client request when the selected future scheduled programmingcontent is ineligible for playback at the time of the client request,and wherein the playback of the first disparate live media output streamis continued at the first client device as per the published firstprogramming schedule.
 19. The system according to claim 17, wherein thealtered first disparate live media output stream comprises the manifestdata, the indexed metadata and the updated playback position when theselected future scheduled programming content is eligible for theplayback at the time of the client request.
 20. The system according toclaim 19, wherein the one or more processors are further configured toplay out the selected future scheduled programming content associatedwith the program identifier in the manifest data, the indexed metadataand the updated playback position, corresponding to a starting point ofthe selected future scheduled programming, of the altered firstdisparate live media output stream.
 21. The system according to claim 1,wherein the one or more functionalities enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights include a third functionality to time-shiftwithin the programming content in the first disparate live media outputstream, wherein the first disparate live media output stream manifestassociated with the first disparate live media output stream presentedat the first client device comprises timing metadata, and wherein thetiming metadata comprises embedded time-based identifiers correspondingto media segments in the first disparate live media output stream. 22.The system according to claim 21, wherein a list of programming contentassociated with the first disparate live media output stream from arepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database isrequested by the first client device, and wherein the list ofprogramming content comprises additional metadata that controls thethird functionality which corresponds to each programming content asenabled via the one or more constraints and rights in the publishedfirst programming schedule.
 23. The system according to claim 22,wherein a client interface is presented at the first client device inaccordance with the third functionality which corresponds to eachprogramming content as enabled via the one or more constraints andrights.
 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein a seeking optionwithin the programming content in the first disparate live media outputstream is enabled at the client interface of at least the first clientdevice in accordance with a default playback buffer of at least thefirst client device when the programming content that is currentlyplayed back does not allow for the third functionality.
 25. The systemaccording to claim 23, wherein a seeking option within each programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream is enabled atthe client interface of at least the first client device when theprogramming content that is currently played back allows for the thirdfunctionality, and wherein the seeking option is enabled within eachprogramming content and a seeking operation forwards in time is up to alatest published media segment within the first disparate live mediaoutput stream manifest.
 26. The system according to claim 25, whereinthe client request further comprises a seeking position to whichplayback is to be time-shifted to, and wherein a seeking operationcontinues into a prior programming content when the seeking operationbackwards in time reaches a starting point of the programming contentthat is currently played back and the third functionality of the priorprogramming content is enabled.
 27. The system according to claim 26,wherein the seeking position comprises a time-based identifier whichcorresponds to an embedded time-based identifier within the firstdisparate live media output stream.
 28. The system according to claim26, wherein the seeking position is calculated based on an embeddedtime-based identifier associated with a current position of a playheadand a desired duration to seek backward or forward.
 29. The systemaccording to claim 26, wherein the one or more processors are furtherconfigured to determine the manifest data and indexed metadatacorresponding to the programming content, corresponding to the firstprogramming schedule, in proximity to the seeking position for theseeking operation.
 30. The system according to claim 29, wherein thealtered first disparate live media output stream to be viewed by atleast the first client device is generated by the one or more processorsbased on the insertion of the determined manifest data and indexedmetadata.
 31. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsinclude a fourth functionality to resume playback within the programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream, and wherein thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest associated with thefirst disparate live media output stream presented on at least the firstclient device comprises timing metadata, wherein the timing metadatacomprises embedded time-based identifiers.
 32. The system according toclaim 31, wherein a playback of the first disparate live media outputstream is paused or terminated by at least the first client device, andwherein a stream identifier of the first disparate live media outputstream, the program identifier of the programming content that iscurrently playing back, and timing metadata within the first disparatelive media output stream are captured by at least the first clientdevice.
 33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the capturedstream identifier, the program identifier, and the timing metadata arestored in one or more of at least the first client device, a serverassociated with a user identifier, or a repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database, wherein the user identifier correspondsto a user associated with at least the first client device, and whereinthe stored stream identifier, the program identifier, and the timingmetadata correspond to a bookmark identifier that defines a state of thefirst disparate live media output stream.
 34. The system according toclaim 33, wherein the client request corresponds to a user selection toresume playback of the first disparate live media output stream on atleast one of the first client device or a second client device, whereinthe user identifier of the first client device is further associatedwith the second client device, and wherein the client request furthercomprises the stream identifier and the timing metadata in addition tothe program identifier.
 35. The system according to claim 34, whereinthe one or more processors are further configured to determine the firstprogramming schedule from a set of programming schedules associated withthe stream identifier based on the timing metadata in the clientrequest.
 36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to reconstruct the first disparatelive media output stream for an altered schedule associated with thestream identifier, the program identifier, and the timing metadata,wherein the reconstructed first disparate live media output streamcorresponds to the second disparate live media output stream, andwherein the generated second disparate live media output stream isviewed at one or both of the first client device and the second clientdevice.
 37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to determine an alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream from therepository of schedules, rights, and user preferences database orthird-party systems.
 38. The system according to claim 37, wherein thedetermined alternate representation of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream is optimized for at least the second client device. 39.The system according to claim 37, wherein the determined alternaterepresentation of the first disparate live media output stream comprisesnon-programming content targeted for one or more users associated withone or both of the first client device and the second client device. 40.A method, comprising: by one or more processors: publishing a firstprogramming schedule that comprises one or more functionalities enabledvia one or more constraints and rights associated with at least a firstdisparate live media output stream, wherein the published firstprogramming schedule references one or more pre-encoded media assetsand/or one or more live input streams; generating an indexed firstdisparate live media output stream for a first client device based onthe published first programming schedule; receiving a client requestfrom the first client device based on a playback of the indexed firstdisparate live media output stream at the first client device, whereinthe client request comprises at least a program identifier referenced inthe published first programming schedule with respect to a playbackposition in the published first programming schedule; inserting manifestdata and indexed metadata of a programming content associated with theprogram identifier to a first disparate live media output streammanifest in accordance with the one or more functionalities; and atleast one of altering the first disparate live media output stream orgenerating a second disparate live media output stream, based on theinsertion of the manifest data and indexed metadata associated with theprogram identifier referenced in the first programming schedule, whereinthe altered first disparate live media output stream or the generatedsecond disparate live media output stream comprises the manifest data,the indexed metadata and an updated playback position.
 41. The methodaccording to claim 40, wherein the manifest data corresponds to one orboth of an encoded live input stream and a pre-encoded media assetassociated with the program identifier, wherein the manifest datadefines at least an associated media content, one or more programmingindicators, timing metadata, one or more media content identifiers, andone or more contextual event identifiers, and wherein the timingmetadata corresponds to the playback position in the published firstprogramming schedule.
 42. The method according to claim 41, furthercomprising processing, by the one or more processors, the manifest datato create the indexed metadata, wherein the indexed metadata defines oneor more program indicators and calculated durations, a programidentification, non-programming content and calculated durations, anon-programming content identification, and one or more event markers.43. The method according to claim 40, further comprising indexing, bythe one or more processors, the one or more pre-encoded media assetsand/or the one or more live input streams referenced in the publishedfirst programming schedule, wherein the one or more live input streamsare indexed repeatedly at variable time intervals, and wherein theindexed first disparate live media output stream for the first clientdevice is generated based on the indexed one or more pre-encoded mediaassets and/or the one or more live input streams.
 44. The methodaccording to claim 40, further comprising maintaining, by the one ormore processors, the manifest data and the indexed metadata to encompassa time-range specified in the published first programming schedule. 45.The method according to claim 40, wherein the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsinclude a first functionality to restart the programming content in thefirst disparate live media output stream that is presented on at leastthe first client device.
 46. The method according to claim 45, whereinthe program identifier is determined by at least the first client devicebased on a request for a list of programming content associated with thefirst disparate live media output stream from a repository of schedules,rights, and user preferences database, and wherein the list ofprogramming content comprises additional metadata that controls thefirst functionality of a current programming content and each of pastprogramming content as enabled via the one or more constraints andrights in the published first programming schedule.
 47. The methodaccording to claim 46, wherein the program identifier is specifiedwithin the first disparate live media output stream manifest thatcorresponds to the first disparate live media output stream for theprogramming content that is currently or recently played back, andwherein one or more media segments of the programming content are withina playout buffer of the first disparate live media output streammanifest.
 48. The method according to claim 45, wherein the clientrequest is generated by the first client device based on a user inputprovided to restart the programming content that is currently orrecently played back in the first disparate live media output stream inaccordance with the first functionality defined in the published firstprogramming schedule.
 49. The method according to claim 45, furthercomprising validating, by the one or more processors, against thepublished first programming schedule that the programming content iseligible for a restart.
 50. The method according to claim 49, furthercomprising ignoring, by the one or more processors, the client requestwhen the programming content is ineligible for the restart, and whereinthe playback of the first disparate live media output stream iscontinued at the first client device as per the published firstprogramming schedule.
 51. The method according to claim 49, whereinfurther comprising altering, by the one or more processors, the manifestdata of the first disparate live media output stream manifest with theprogramming content associated with the program identifier from astarting point of the programming content when the programming contentis eligible for the restart.
 52. The method according to claim 40,wherein the one or more functionalities enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights include a second functionality to skip to afuture scheduled programming content in the first disparate live mediaoutput stream, and wherein the second functionality is allowed for afirst set of pre-encoded media content or a live input stream thatcomprises a second set of pre-encoded media content.
 53. The methodaccording to claim 52, wherein a list of programming content associatedwith the first disparate live media output stream from a repository ofschedules, rights, and user preferences database is requested by thefirst client device, and wherein the list of programming contentcomprises additional metadata that controls a second functionality ofthe future scheduled programming content as enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights in the published first programming schedule. 54.The method according to claim 53, wherein the client request isgenerated by the first client device based on a user input thatcorresponds to a selection of the future scheduled programming contentfrom the list of programming content.
 55. The method according to claim54, wherein the program identifier referenced in the published firstprogramming schedule corresponds to the selected future scheduledprogramming content that is scheduled to be played out during a futuretimestamp after a live point in a playback buffer of the first disparatelive media output stream.
 56. The method according to claim 54, furthercomprising validating, by the one or more processors, against thepublished first programming schedule that the selected future scheduledprogramming content is eligible for playback at a time of the clientrequest.
 57. The method according to claim 56, further comprisingignoring, by the one or more processors, the client request when theselected future scheduled programming content is ineligible for playbackat the time of the client request, and wherein the playback of the firstdisparate live media output stream is continued at the first clientdevice as per the published first programming schedule.
 58. The methodaccording to claim 56, wherein the altered first disparate live mediaoutput stream comprises the manifest data, the indexed metadata and theupdated playback position when the selected future scheduled programmingcontent is eligible for the playback at the time of the client request.59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising playing out, bythe one or more processors, the selected future scheduled programmingcontent associated with the program identifier in the manifest data, theindexed metadata and the updated playback position, corresponding to astarting point of the selected future scheduled programming, of thealtered first disparate live media output stream.
 60. The methodaccording to claim 40, wherein the one or more functionalities enabledvia the one or more constraints and rights include a third functionalityto time-shift within the programming content in the first disparate livemedia output stream, wherein the first disparate live media outputstream manifest associated with the first disparate live media outputstream presented at the first client device comprises timing metadata,and wherein the timing metadata comprises embedded time-basedidentifiers corresponding to media segments in the first disparate livemedia output stream.
 61. The method according to claim 60, wherein alist of programming content associated with the first disparate livemedia output stream from a repository of schedules, rights, and userpreferences database is requested by the first client device, andwherein the list of programming content comprises additional metadatathat controls the third functionality which corresponds to eachprogramming content as enabled via the one or more constraints andrights in the published first programming schedule.
 62. The methodaccording to claim 61, wherein a client interface is presented at thefirst client device in accordance with the third functionality whichcorresponds to each programming content as enabled via the one or moreconstraints and rights.
 63. The method according to claim 62, wherein aseeking option within the programming content in the first disparatelive media output stream is enabled at the client interface of at leastthe first client device in accordance with a default playback buffer ofat least the first client device when the programming content that iscurrently played back does not allow for the third functionality. 64.The method according to claim 62, wherein a seeking option within eachprogramming content in the first disparate live media output stream isenabled at the client interface of at least the first client device whenthe programming content that is currently played back allows for thethird functionality, and wherein the seeking option is enabled withineach programming content and a seeking operation forwards in time is upto a latest published media segment within the first disparate livemedia output stream manifest.
 65. The method according to claim 64,wherein the client request further comprises a seeking position to whichplayback is to be time-shifted to, and wherein a seeking operationcontinues into a prior programming content when the seeking operationbackwards in time reaches a starting point of the programming contentthat is currently played back and the third functionality of the priorprogramming content is enabled.
 66. The method according to claim 65,wherein the seeking position comprises a time-based identifier whichcorresponds to an embedded time-based identifier within the firstdisparate live media output stream.
 67. The method according to claim65, wherein the seeking position is calculated based on an embeddedtime-based identifier associated with a current position of a playheadand a desired duration to seek backward or forward.
 68. The methodaccording to claim 65, further comprising determining, by the one ormore processors, the manifest data and indexed metadata corresponding tothe programming content, corresponding to the first programmingschedule, in proximity to the seeking position for the seekingoperation.
 69. The method according to claim 68, wherein the alteredfirst disparate live media output stream to be viewed by at least thefirst client device is generated by the one or more processors based onthe insertion of the determined manifest data and indexed metadata. 70.The method according to claim 40, wherein the one or morefunctionalities enabled via the one or more constraints and rightsinclude a fourth functionality to resume playback within the programmingcontent in the first disparate live media output stream, and wherein thefirst disparate live media output stream manifest associated with thefirst disparate live media output stream presented on at least the firstclient device comprises timing metadata, wherein the timing metadatacomprises embedded time-based identifiers.
 71. The method according toclaim 70, wherein a playback of the first disparate live media outputstream is paused or terminated by at least the first client device, andwherein a stream identifier of the first disparate live media outputstream, the program identifier of the programming content that iscurrently playing back, and timing metadata within the first disparatelive media output stream are captured by at least the first clientdevice.
 72. The method according to claim 71, wherein the capturedstream identifier, the program identifier, and the timing metadata arestored in one or more of at least the first client device, a serverassociated with a user identifier, or a repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database, wherein the user identifier correspondsto a user associated with at least the first client device, and whereinthe stored stream identifier, the program identifier, and the timingmetadata correspond to a bookmark identifier that defines a state of thefirst disparate live media output stream.
 73. The method according toclaim 72, wherein the client request corresponds to a user selection toresume playback of the first disparate live media output stream on atleast one of the first client device or a second client device, whereinthe user identifier of the first client device is further associatedwith the second client device, and wherein the client request furthercomprises the stream identifier and the timing metadata in addition tothe program identifier.
 74. The method according to claim 73, furthercomprising determining, by the one or more processors, the firstprogramming schedule from a set of programming schedules associated withthe stream identifier based on the timing metadata in the clientrequest.
 75. The method according to claim 74, further comprisingreconstructing, by the one or more processors, the first disparate livemedia output stream for an altered schedule associated with the streamidentifier, the program identifier, and the timing metadata, wherein thereconstructed first disparate live media output stream corresponds tothe second disparate live media output stream, and wherein the generatedsecond disparate live media output stream is viewed at one or both ofthe first client device and the second client device.
 76. The methodaccording to claim 75, further comprising determining, by the one ormore processors, an alternate representation of the first disparate livemedia output stream determined from the repository of schedules, rights,and user preferences database or third-party systems for the seconddisparate live media output stream.
 77. The method according to claim76, wherein the determined alternate representation of the firstdisparate live media output stream is optimized for at least the secondclient device.
 78. The method according to claim 76, wherein thedetermined alternate representation of the first disparate live mediaoutput stream comprises non-programming content targeted for one or moreusers associated with one or both of the first client device and thesecond client device.
 79. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumhaving stored thereon, computer implemented instruction that whenexecuted by a processor in a computer, causes the computer to executeoperations, the operations comprising: publishing a first programmingschedule that comprises one or more functionalities enabled via one ormore constraints and rights associated with at least a first disparatelive media output stream, wherein the published first programmingschedule references one or more pre-encoded media assets and/or one ormore live input streams; generating an indexed first disparate livemedia output stream for a first client device based on the publishedfirst programming schedule; receiving a client request from the firstclient device based on a playback of the indexed first disparate livemedia output stream at the first client device, wherein the clientrequest comprises at least a program identifier referenced in thepublished first programming schedule with respect to a playback positionin the published first programming schedule; inserting manifest data andindexed metadata of a programming content associated with the programidentifier to a first disparate live media output stream manifest inaccordance with the one or more functionalities; and at least one ofaltering the first disparate live media output stream or generating asecond disparate live media output stream, based on the insertion of themanifest data and indexed metadata associated with the programidentifier referenced in the first programming schedule, wherein thealtered first disparate live media output stream or the generated seconddisparate live media output stream comprises the manifest data, theindexed metadata and an updated playback position.